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This  BOOK  may  be  kept  out  TWO  WEEKS 
ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  FIVE 
CENTS  a  day  thereafter.  It  was  taken  out  on 
the  day  indicated  below: 


Lib.  10M-F.'35 


UNDER  GOLDEN  SKIES 


OR 


IN  THE  NEW  ELDORADO 


A  Story  of  Southern  Life 

BY 

A  Southern  Author 


•■A  child's  kiss 
Set  on  thy  sighing  lips,  shall  make  thee  glad; 
A  poor  man  served  by  thee,  shall  make  thee  rich; 
A  sick  man  helped  by  thee,  shall  make  thee  strong. 
Thou  shalt  be  served  thyself  by  every  sense 
Of  service  which  thou  renderest." 

— E.  B.  Browning. 

'•Sometimes  fair  truth  in  fiction  we  disguise; 
Sometimes  present  her  naked  to  men's  eyes." 

— Hesiod. 


^ 


RALEIGH,  N.  C: 
Ktjwards  &  Broughton,  Printers  and  Binder.s, 

1898. 


COPYRIGHTED,    1899. 


DEDICATION 

TO 

THE    BRAVE    AND   NOBLE    HEROES    OF   AMERICA, 

OUR   CHAMPIONS   AND    DEFENDERS, 

WHO   BY    THEIR    UNSELFISH    COURAGE    AND 

MODEST    HEROISM, 
AS    WELL    AS    THEIR    LOVE    OF    JUSTICE    AND 

HUMANITY. 
HAVE   MADE    THE   HISTORY    OF    OUR   WAR   A 

GLORIOUS   HERITAGE, 
IS    THIS    BOOK    DEDICATED    BY    THE    AUTHOR 

AS    A 

SLIGHT    MEMORIAL    OF    HER    ADMIRATION    FOR 

THEIR   GALLANT    DEEDS. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


In  that  splendid  book  that  barely  falls  short 
of  inspiration — the  wonder  of  childhood  and  the 
comfort  of  old  age — the  master-piece  of  quaint 
and  saintly  John  Bunyan,  the  picture  of  the 
Wicker  Gate,  though  an  eventide  scene  and 
done  in  sombre  colors,  is  always  vivid  in  the 
mind,  for  it  is  the  •'Alabaaia,"  '"the  here  we 
rest"  of  Pilgrim's  Progress. 

Did  ever  absorbed,  enraptured  child  put  the 
book  aside  for  the  good-night  kiss  and  ' '  Now  I 
lay  me,"  and  the  trundle-bed  until  tired  Chris- 
tian was  safe  within  the  portals  of  the  Wicker 
Gate ?  And  over  it  was  the  inscription :  ''Knock 
and  it  shall  be  opeaed  unto  you. "  The  first  wel- 
come to  the  pilgrim  on  his  way  to  the  Celestial 
City! 

Descending  from  the  sacred  to  the  secular,  not 
the  slightest  irreverence  is  intended  in  the  state- 
ment that  the  earnest  youth,  seeking  a  life-mis- 
sion, will  find  the  word  ''Welcome''  above  the 
open  portals  at  the  entering  in  to  the  Old  North 
State.  The  young  Puritan  barrister,  Wait- 
still  Avery,  vdth  a  Princeton  sheepskin  in  his 
pocket  and  a  brace  of  horse-pistols  at  his  saddle- 
horn,  who  rode  his  sturdy  nag  from  far  New 
England,  through  forest  and  swamp  a  hundred 


ft  INTRODUCTORY. 

years  ago,  to  pitch  his  tent  in  the  hill-country  of 
IS'orth  Carolina,  found  this  cordial  welcome;  and 
so  likewise  the  young  man  of  to-day  who  rode 
into  our  midst  in  his  palace-car  from  the  great 
metropolis  to  build  his  splendid  castle  in  the 
sheltering  circle  of  the  everlasting  hills  that 
guard  the  good  State's  western  border. 

"  Welcome  "  is  the  word,  indeed,  and  yet  hon- 
esty requires  another  inscription  to  be  posted  at 
our  doors:  "North  Carolina — the  State  that 
makes  history  but  rarely  writes  it. ' '  So  prover- 
bial has  this  saying  become  that  there  has  been 
atlded  to  the  State  coat-of -ar ms  the  motto :  '  '■Esse 
qua  III  videri/' 

In  too  great  modesty,  as  a  State,  lies  the  dan- 
ger that  the  fortune-seeker  and  the  home-builder 
and  the  man  with  a  mission  or  a  message  for 
the  world  will  pass  us  by  to  settle  in  some  sister 
State  that  takes  the  better  care  of  the  worth  and 
heroism  of  her  sons. 

With  some  such  thoughts  as  these  in  mind, 
andsDme  such  fears  weighing  upon  the  heart,  the 
author  was  impelled  in  recent  years  to  write  this 
story  of  Southern  life,  "  Under  Golden  Skies." 
An  undying  love  for  North  Carolina  and  her 
brave  people,  with  indignation  over  abuse  some- 
times unjustly  heaped  upon  the  State,  prompted 
this  effort — whatever  be  its  results — to  aid  in 
setting  the  good  State  aright  before  those  who 


INTRODUCTORY.  7 

know  her  least.  And  such  an  effort  will  surely 
receive  the  commendation  of  all  true  North  Car- 
oUnians. 

Then,  too,  this  sketch  of  North  Carolina  life 
is  intended  to  illustrate  the  actual  history  of  the 
period  covered  in  the  narrative.  The  characters 
of  the  story  are  generally  taken  from  real  life. 
The  purely  imaginary  characters  introduced  are 
few ;  hut  even  these  are  all  very  real  to  the  author. 
The  writer  of  these  introductory  hues,  during  al- 
most a  decade  in  which  he  has  heen  honored 
with  the  friendship  of  the  author,  has  often  noted 
the  enthusiastic  affection  she  entertained  for  the 
people  in  her  book.  These  children  of  the  imagi- 
nation have  all  become  entangled  in  the  heart- 
strings of  the  author.  It  is  related  of  Thackery 
that,  being  asked  the  cause  of  a  burst  of  tears 
one  day,  he  rephed:  "I  have  killed  Colonel 
Newcombe  I ' '  How  dear  to  the  heart  of  an 
author  is  the  family  of  book-children  I 

The  story  is  more  than  founded  on  fact.  It  is 
a  story  of  all  facts.  The  little  fiction  in  it  is 
chiefly  to  link  together  the  real  episodes  in  the 
history  of  friends  in  the  flesh  and  to  make  the 
sketch  an  harmonious  whole. 

Supremest  motive  of  all,  the  book  is  sent  foith 
by  the  author  in  the  loving  hope  that  it  may 
appeal  to  "the  angels  of  our  better  natures;'" 
that  it  may  stimulate  to  a  truer,  better,  richer. 


8  INTRODUCTORY. 

higher,  hoherhfe;  that  it  may  shed  some  sun- 
shine into  darkened  hearts,  some  melody  in  song- 
less  lives;  that  it  may  encourage  desponding 
souls  to  mount  up,  in  hope  and  faith,  as  on 
eagles'  wings,  above  obscuring  clouds,  until, 
"Under  Golden  Skies"  indeed,  they  bask  con- 
tinually in  the  flooding  sunlight  of  God's  love 
and  peace  and  promises. 

Howard  A.  Banks. 

Charlotte,  N.  C.  August  30,  1898. 


UNDER  GOLDEN  SKIES; 


OR. 


IN  THE  NEW  ELDORADO. 


CHAPTER  I. 


One,  two, — Dr.  Leslie  paused  suddenly  in  his 
walk  and  bent  his  head  in  an  attitude  of  rapt  at- 
tention, and  for  a  moment  listened. 

V^aguely,  from  a  distance,  away  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  quiet  Moravian  town  which  nestled 
twin-like  beside  its  favored  sister,  rang  out  in 
solemn  chimes  from  the  old  church  gable,  three, 
four,  five  o'clock! — the  mellow  sound  throbbing 
and  receding  upon  the  crisp  morning  air  like  a 
half-heard,  elusive  strain  of  melody  as  it  teas- 
ingiy  touched  the  consciousness,  —  then  lan- 
guished and  died  away  in  the  restful  stillness. 

The  balmy  spring  weather  was  gloriously  beau- 
tiful, such  as  comes  to  the  Old  North  State  in 
the  month  of  May,  and  the  soft  air  smelt  of  the 
blended  fragrance  of  roses  and  violets.  The 
heaven  was  without  a  cloud,  but  a  pearly  white 
mist  loitered  in  the  atmosphere  of  the  upper  calm 
which  the  rosy  radiance  of  the  ascending  sun 
began  to  lift  as  it  rapidly  saffused  the  eastern 
horizon. 

During  the  night  a  gentle  rain  had  fallen,  and 
under  the  first  quivering  sunbeams  of  dawn  the 
waving  grasses  and  tender  foliage  of  the  trees 
and  shrubbery  took  on  a  deeper  brilliancy. 


10  UNDER  GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

As  Dr.  Leslie  slowly  paced  back  and  forth  the 
long  veranda  of  his  handsome  residence,  inhal- 
ing with  a  sense  of  the  keenest  enjoyment  the 
dewy  freshness  of  the  early  morning,  there  was 
no  sound  as  yet  astir  about  the  house  and  prem- 
ises save  the  echo  of  his  own  measured  footfall, 
and  the  rapturous  trill  of  a  mocking  bird  that 
swayed  himself  to  and  fro  on  the  topmost  bough 
of  an  ancient  oak  on  the  velvety  green  lawi^ ;  but 
low  and  indistinct  at  first,  then  deepening  in  in- 
tensity every  moment,  the  sound  of  busy  life  in- 
creased. To  the  eastward  the  shrill  whistle  of 
the  steam-engine,  mellowed  by  the  distance, 
shortly  followed  by  the  sudden  clash  and  clangor 
of  moving  trains.  Somewhere  round  the  corner 
a  drowsy  cock  crowed  long  and  mournfully,  then 
another  and  another  took  up  the  friendly  chal- 
lenge, answering  defiantly  and  vigorously,  while 
the  resonant  notes  seemed  to  hang  tentatively  in 
the  clear  fragrant  air.  Across  the  way  a  savage- 
looking  dog,  cropped-eared  and  short  of  tail, 
pranced  and  barked  furiously  at  a  stray  cat  he 
had  nosed  prowling  suspiciously  about  his  pri- 
vate domain,  and  when  he  had  rebuked  the 
feline  tramp  for  its  intrusion  it  had  fled  precipi- 
tately to  the  top  of  the  gate  post,  where  it  sat 
curling  and  beating  its  tail  in  a  tigerish  sort  of 
way  and  glaring  angrily  down  upon  its  noisy 
tormentor. 

When  the  town  clock  sent  forth  another  warn- 
ing the  bright,  busy  city  was  fairly  awake.  The 
great  factory  whistles  screamed  and  shrilled  in 
every  direction,  and  soon  the  streets  were 
thronged  with  workmen,  clerks  and  salesmen, 
gayly  jesting  and  gossipping  together  as  they 
hurried  along  toward  the  scene  of  their  daily 
tasks. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  11 

Ere  long  the  noisy  clattering  and  jangle  of 
grocery-,  milk  wagons  and  drays  added  variety 
to  the  medley,  while  above  the  din  rose  the  harsh 
discordant  clangor  of  the  electric  street  cars,  half 
filled  with  passengers,  as  they  whirred  and 
dashed  breezily  past  along  their  level  track. 

Dr.  Leshe  paused  when  he  had  reached  the  end 
of  the  veranda  where  a  luxuriant  rose- vine  clam- 
bered over  the  roof,  to  pluck  a  cluster  of  the  fra- 
grant flowers,  and  just  then  a  suddenly  awak- 
ened wind  swayed  the  heavily  freighted  branches 
and  flung  a  shower  of  golden  rose  petals  at  his 
feet,  making  yellow  stains  upon  the  polished 
floor. 

As  he  turned  to  resume  his  walk,  in  the  full 
enjoyment  of  the  vivid  picture  before  him,  his 
ear  caught  the  grinding  noise  of  brisk,  heavy 
footsteps  coming  up  the  graveled  walk.  His 
handsome  face  beamed  with  a  perfunctory  smile 
as  he  cast  a  swift  glance  in  the  direction  of  the 
sound,  and  he  walked  alertly  forward  to  the 
front  of  the  veranda. 

"How  are  you,  Leary '?  Uome  in,  come  in, 
you  are  out  early,  '  said  the  doctor,  with  the 
cordial  familiarity  in  tone  and  manner  of  an  old 
friend,  at  the  same  time  extending  a  plump  white 
hand  as  his  visitor  hesitated  upon  the  steps. 

"No,  thanks;  I  haven't  time  really.  I  just 
called  to  see  if  Carl  has  decided  to  go  with  me  to 
Europe  ?  He  told  me  he  thought  he  should  be 
able  to  get  off  by  the  time  I  was  ready  to  leave.'' 

Mr.  Leary  took  off  his  stiff  black  hat  and 
leaned  against  one  of  the  fluted  pillars,  and  ner- 
vously combed  his  long  fingers  through  his  dark 
hair,  which  was  beginning  to  show  strands  of 
gray. 


12  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES:    OR, 

'*  Well,  yes;  that  is  a  matter  I  want  to  speak 
with  you  about.     Come,  let  us  talk  it  over." 

Dr.  Leslie  stepped  quickly  into  the  hall,  laid 
the  roses  he  held  in  his  hand  upon  the  table,  and 
brought  out  two  chairs. 

''  Carl  ran  over  to  the  University  day  before 
yesterday."  he  resumed.  ''  to  take  part  with  the 
Glee  Club  in  a  concert.  What  I  want  to  say  is 
this :  he  is  anxious  to  go  abroad,  and  I've  always 
intended  he  should  as  soon  as  he  had  finished  his 
studies  at  the  University ;  and  really  I  do  not 
know  any  better  opportunity  for  him  to  take  this 
trip  than  now.  The  president  of  the  University, 
who  takes  a  great  interest  in  him,  has  advised 
him  to  go  by  all  means,  spend  the  summer  trav- 
eling w^ith  you  on  the  continent  and  then  enter 
at  Heidelberg  or  Leipzig.  I  heartily  approve  of 
the  plan.  We've  talked  the  matter  over  with 
his  mother  and  it  meets  her  approval  also." 

Mr.  Leary  listened  with  a  look  of  pleased  sat- 
isfaction, occasionally  nodding  his  head  softly, 
and  otherwise  manifestiog  the  most  vivid  inter- 
est.    Then  he  said  approvingly : 

"•  Yes,  it  seems  that  one's  education  can  hardly 
be  called  complete  in  this  day  without  an  Euro- 
pean excursion  as  a  final  touch  to  the  home 
polish.  As  soon  as  my  wife  found  out  that  I  was 
going  abroad,  she  insisted  that  I  should  put  off 
the  trip  a  few  weeks  until  Kate  was  graduated 
from  the  Academy,  so  they  could  accompany 
me.     I  am  glad  now  that  I  did  sc." 

'•  How  soon  do  you  expect  to  start,  and  on 
what  steamer?"  Dr.  Leslie  asked. 

"  That  I  don't  know  just  now.  I  am  expect- 
ing letters  this  morning  which  will  influence 
mv  deci.sion.     I  think  the  Germanic  sails  about 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  1?> 

the  first  of  June,  and  it  is  more   than  likely  I 
shall  go  by  that." 

Mr.  Leary  got  upon  his  feet  and  hastened  to 
say,  as  he  looked  at  his  watch:  ''But  1  must 
be  going.  Can't  you  come  down,  say  about  ten 
or  eleven  o'clock  ?  and  by  that  time  I  may  be  bet- 
ter able  to  give  you  my  plans  and  the  outlines 
0£  ray  trip. ' ' 

"  Yes,  I'll  be  down  sometime  during-fhe  morn- 
ing. Can't  promise  what  hour.  But  won't  you 
stay  and  breakfast  with  me? — be  giad  to  have 
you."  Dr.  Leslie  had  risen,  and  stood  with  his 
hands  clasped  behind  him. 

"  Thanks — not  this  morning,  I've  been  to 
breakfast."  They  still  stood  talking  in  the  i-'ash- 
iim  common  to  men  when  discussing  a  subject 
of  mutual  interest.  Mr.  Leary  looked  at  his 
watch  again ;  ' '  I  shall  expect  you  dowm  soon — 
in  the  course  of  an  hour  or  two;  good-bye." 

He  started  off  at  a  quick,  hght  pace.  Half 
way  down  the  walk  he  stopped  and  called  back ; 
'•  By  the  way,  have  you  heard  anything  from 
our  old  friends  out  in  California  lately  ?  I  mean 
Arnold,  Glen  wood  and  Talbot  ?  "" 

"No,  not  for  some  time,  why?"  Dr.  Leslie 
asked  quickly  while  a  sudden  change  passed  over 
his  face.  The  other  hesitated  a  moment  as  if 
debating  whether  to  answer  directly.  But  he 
only  said  hurriedly — almost  abruptly:  -'Oh, 
never  mind  now.  Don't  let  me  forget  to  give 
you  the  last  San  Francisco  papers  when  you 
come  clown." 

Dr.  Leslie  watched  his  retreating  figure  until 
it  had  passed  out  of  sight.  He  was  satisfied  that 
Mr.  Leary  had  some  definite  motive  for  asking 
him  that  question,  and  he  could  not  repress  the 


14  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

impulse  to  wonder  what  he  meant.  He  tried  to 
shrug  away  the  unaccountahle  depression  that 
seemed  obscurely  taking  hold  of  him.  From 
conjectural  thoughts  his  mind  easily  slipped  into 
pensive  reveries,  and  as  his  revery  deepened,  the 
shad(nv  that  drifted  across  his  face  evidenced 
that  he  suffered. 

In  this  moment  of  retrospection,  he  went  back 
as  far  as  the  fifties — as  remotely  as  1859.  With- 
out conscious  mental  effort  he  recalled  minute 
details  that  he  believed  he  had  entirely  forgotten. 
He  remembered  reading  a,  book  some  years  ago, 
giving  a  most  glowing  account  of  the  richness, 
beauty  and  vastness  of  California,  which  lauded 
the  country  with  little  regard  to  accuracy,  the 
object  being  to  start  immigration.  The  book  had 
been  the  means  of  inducing  his  own  parents  to 
go  to  that  beautiful  Eldorado. 

Among  the  families  who  had  immigrated  from 
North  Carolina  with  Dr.  Leshe's  parents  were 
the  Glenwoods,  his  nearest  ma^.ernal  kin.  and 
the  Arnolds,  Learys  and  Talbots,  the  children  of 
whom  were  his  playfellows.  '  He,  himself,  was 
too  young  to  have  any  recollection  of  the  dim 
fear  of  danger  attendant  on  so  long  a  journey, 
but  he  had  often  heard  his  parents  recount  their 
trials,  until  he  felt  that  he  too  remembered  it 
all  and  had  shared  in  their  anxieties.  But  he  did 
recall  the  feeling  of  wonder  and  delight  he  had 
experienced  on  coming  back  to  his  native  place 
with  his  widowed  mother  and  two  sisters  soon 
after  the  civil  war,  and  discovering  what  a  mag- 
nificent country  they  had  left  behind  to  cast  their 
fortunes  in  a  strange  land. 

Ignorantly,  as  thousands  of  others  had  done 
before  them,  they  had  left  a  land  of  splendid  and 


IN   THE   NEW   ET.DORADO.  15 

endless  possibilities,  embracing  every  variety  of 
scenery,  soil,  climate  and  production — from  iDlue 
mountain  peaks  and  pasture  lands,  to  vast  plains 
and  river  valleys  of  bottomless  alluvium,  teem- 
ing with  all  the  fruits  and  fabrics  of  arctic,  tern  - 
perate  and  semi-tropical  realms — a  land  that  had 
the  finest  deciduous  trees  in  the  world,  the  great- 
est variety  of  flowering  plants,  so  botanists 
averred,  and  a  larger  variety  of  mineral  wealth 
than  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  All  this  they 
had  left,  and  for  what  purpose  ? 

That  they  might  secure  a  little  more  filthy 
lucre,  perhaps  more  easily  and  readily,  but  which 
fortune^  they  would  have  realized  at  home  had 
they  been  content  to  remain  within  her  borders 
and  seek  the  knowledge  and  skill  wherewith  to 
develop  the  boundless  resources  within  theii^ 
reach. 

The  tide  had  turned  now — yes,  was  rapidly 
turning — and  he  felt  a  joyous  pride  in  the  fact; 
glad,  too,  that  he  had  come  back  to  labor  and 
die  among  a  people  whose  creative  power,  intel- 
ligent enthusiasm  and  iron-hearted  ambition 
were  working  out  miracles  far  beyond  the  most 
extravagant  things  that  had  ever  been  prophe- 
sied about  the  Old  North  State. 

Indeed,  progress  had  gone  on  so  quietly  and 
unostentatiously  in  the  latter  years,  that  now 
the  M'hole  country  was  amazed  at  the  develop- 
ment. Assuredly  there  was  no  place  between 
the  two  oceans  equal  to  North  Carolina  for  in- 
vestment. Gould,  Corbin  and  Vanderbilt  had 
found  it  out  soon,  and  this  had  promptly  led  the 
van  of  an  immigration  from  Northern  and  West- 
ern States,  which  was  now  growing  apace. 

Then,  with  an  intensity  of  sad  feeling,    Dr. 


IH  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Leslie  mentally  recurred  to  the  career  of  his 
father.  He  had  been  a  man  of  courage,  sagacity 
and  generous  instincts,  and  at  his  death,  which 
occurred  many  years  ago,  his  family  had  come 
into  possession  of  the  handsome  fortune  which 
lie  had  accunmlated  so  rapidly,  and  seemingly, 
so  easily.  But  his  death  had  been  a  signal  for  a 
significant  change  in  the  future  plans  of  his 
familv. 

After  so  many  years  of  absence  they  indulged 
in  some  misgivings  as  to  whether  they  should  be 
able  to  repurchase  the  old  homestead,  and  it  was 
with  pleased  surprise  that  they  had  found  little 
difficulty  in  doing  so. 

Money,  as  we  all  know,  is  a  powerful  alchem- 
ist; and  under  its  transforming  touch  the  old 
))rick  mansion  of  the  Leslies,  with  its  imposing- 
front,  impressing  one  with  an  air  of  comfort  and 
homely  solidity,  literally  blossomed  as  the  rose, 
and  to  the  well-trained  eye  of  the  stranger  even, 
it  was  luminous  with  intimations  as  to  the  real 
social  status  of  the  occupants. 

The  ringing  of  the  breakfast  bell  interrujjted 
Dr.  Leslie's  meditations,  and  when  he  entered 
the  bright,  pretty  room  the  breakfast  was  upon 
the  table,  but  the  three  occupants  had  been 
waiting. 

Mrs.  Grayson,  his  widowed  sister,  a  well-pre- 
served woman,  gentle  and  refined  in  manner, 
and  still  wearing  the  garb  of  widowhood,  though 
in  a  modified  form,  sat  by  an  open  window 
arranging  a  basket  of  freshly  cut  flowers,  the 
sunlight  falling  upon  her  sweet,  calm  face  while 
she  talked  to  Nellie,  her  little  daughter,  who  was 
clipping  the  stems  of  some  of  the  choicest  roses 
and  dressing  a  tiny  vase  of  her  own  which  stood 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  17 

upoD  the  window-sill,  Carl,  her  son,  a  hand- 
some young  man  of  not  quite  twenty-two  years, 
stood  beside  her,  one  hand  easily  resting  upon 
the  back  of  her  chair,  and  in  the  other  he  held 
The  Sentinel,  a  daily  paper,  from  which  he  had 
been  reading  to  her  a  spicy  editorial  on  a  mooted 
question  of  local  interest. 

The  room,  which  was  large  and  lofty,  had  that 
air  of  comfort  and  refinement  which  bespoke  the 
cultivated  taste  of  the  owner,  as  weU  as  the  ap- 
propriateness of  its  purpose.  Everything  seemed 
specially  suited  to  it,  from  the  pretty  etchings 
on  the  frescoed  wall,  and  a  few  rare  pieces  of 
bric-a-brac  scattered  about  to  please  the  eye,  to 
the  white  damasked  table  with  its  exquisite  ser- 
vice of  rose-tinted  china  and  resplendent  silver. 

"Oh.  Uncle  Ralph,  you're  late.'  exclaimed 
Nellie  whirling  around  as  Dr.  Leslie  entered  the 
room ;  * '  Mamma  rang  the  breakfast  bell  twice ; 
and  why  didn't  you  come  ?  " 

' '  I  was  talking  with  Mr.  Leary  when  the  first 
beU  rang.  I  suppose,  and  didn't  hear  it,"  Dr. 
LesUe  explained  to  Mrs.  Grayson's  glance,  and 
Nellie's  good-natured  plaint.  "  I'm  sorry  I  kept 
you  waiting,  but  I'll  try  not  to  do  it  any  more." 

"  See  here.  Uncle  Ralph,  aren't  these  beauti- 
ful ? — and  ugh !  "  smelling  them — "  they  are  just 
as  sweet  as  can  be! ''  shouted  Nellie,  holding  up 
with  triumphant  glee  the  flowers  she  had  been 
arranging. 

"Yes,  they  are  as  pretty  and  sweet  as  little 
Nell. ' '  he  said  with  a  specious  brightness,  encir- 
cling the  tiny  waist  with  one  arm,  and  kissing 
the  dimpled  cheek.  "  But  let's  have  breakfast 
now,  and  not  keep  mamma  and  Carl  waiting 
any  longer. ' ' 


( 


IS  UNDKR   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

'' All  right,  sir."  She  set  the  vase  upon  the 
tahle  between  her  own  and  her  uncle's  plate,  and 
climbed  nimbly  up  into  her  baby  chair  on  his 
right.  She  scarcely  waited  for  him  to  finish  the 
blessing  before  she  began  again  with  voluble  ani- 
mation. 

"  Mamma's. going  to  take  her  flowers  to  Daisy 
Nelson,  because  Daisy  says  she  loves  to  have 
flowers  about  her  when  she's  sick — said  she  got 
so  tired  looking  at  the  dark-papered  walls :  and 
the  pictures  of  those  old-timey,  funny  looking 
men  hanging  over  the  mant^-l  looked  as  if  they 
were  making  faces  at  her.  I  asked  her  to  let  me 
pull  them  down  and  burn  them  up,  but  she 
w^ouldn't  do  it — she  said  her  mamma  would  scold 
us  like  anything  if  we  did." 

"  How  is  the  child,  Helen  ?  have  you  seen  her 
in  the  last  day  or  two  ?  "  Dr.  Leslie  addressed 
himself  to  Mrs.  Grayson,  who  had  taken  her  seat 
at  the  head  of  the  table. 

"  I'm  afraid  she  isn't  any  better.  I  was  to  see 
her  on  yesterday.  Mrs.  Nelson  said  she  had 
taken  no  soHd  food  for  several  days.  I  don't  like 
her  symptoms,  and  wish  you  would  call  to  see 
her  to-day  if  you  can." 

' '  Yes,  I  will,  ■ '  he  assented.  ' '  But  I  must  see 
Leary  the  first  thing  this  morning  on  some  busi  - 
ness,  and  afterwards  I'll  call  to  see  the  child.  I 
hope  yet  she  may  pull  through  this  last  attack." 

■For  a  moment  he  paused,  then  turned  to  Carl. 

"  If  you  have  no  special  engagement  for  this 
morning,  I  should  hke  you  to  go  with  me  to 
Leary 's  office.  He  and  I  Avere  talking  about —  " 
But  Dr.  Leslie  was  interrupted  by  a  tap  on  the 
door. 

'What  is  it,  Virgil?" 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  19 

A  servant  had  entered  the  room  with  the  morn- 
ing's mail,  which  he  handed  to  Carl,  who  sat 
nearest  the  door.  The  letters  were  all  addressed 
to  his  uncle  except  one,  which  was  for  himself 
from  a  old  schoolmate  whose  familiar  hand- 
writing he  readily  recognized.  He  handed  the 
magazines  to  his  mother,  the  letters  and  papers 
to  his  uncle,  and  then  prepared  to  read  his  own 
letter, 

'•  T  guess  my  letters  can  wait,-'  said  Dr.  Leslie, 
eyeing  the  hudget  as  he  laid  it  beside  his  plate 
and  went  on  with  his  breakfast. 

"  Uncle  Ralph  you  do  get  so  many  letters!  Do 
you  read  every  single  one  of  them  and  send  an- 
swers to  them  ?  '"  asked  Nellie  earnestly,  survey- 
ing her  uncle's  mail. 

"■  Why,  yes,  my  dear,  I  read  them  all,  but  it  is 
not  always  necessary  to  answer  ever}'  one  I  get. 
When  you  are  older  and  learn  how  to  write 
maybe  you'll  help  me  with  my  correspondence — 
be  a  sort  of  private  secretary  for  me.  you  knoAv. 
Many  charming  women  are  making  an  undenia- 
ble success  in  such  a  position  at  present. ' ' 

"  Oh,  I'll  never  be  smart  enough  to  write  for 
you,  Uncle  Ealph. " "  Nellie  paused  and  was  silent 
for  a  moment,  then  she  burst  out  as  if  a  new 
idea  had  suddenly  occurred  to  her — something 
she  had  never  thought  of  before,  but  something 
luminous  with  possibilities  for  her  uncle. 

"  Why  don't  you  get  married,  Uncle  Ralph, 
and  then  you  would  have  some  one  to  help  you 
to  write  your  letters  ?  That  would  be  the  verv 
thing. ' ' 

A  warning  look  and  a  significant  shake  of  the 
head  from  her  mother  silenced  her,  while  she 
wondered  what  she  was  saying  so  dreadful  that 
her  mother  would  want  her  to  hush. 


20  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Meanwhile  Carl  had  read  his  letter,  \^'ith  a 
troubled  expression  on  his  face  he  resumed  his 
breakfast,  trying  to  appear  as  usual,  but  failed 
utterly. 

After  making  a  Hglit  breakfast  he  strolled  to 
the  window  aud  looked  out,  then  walked  back 
and  stood  with  one  arm  resting  on  the  mantel. 

"  Uncle,  I  have  a  letter  from  Cecil  Brian;  you 
remember  him  I  suppose  '? ' ' 

"  Brian  ?  Cecil  Brian  ?  "  Dr.  Leslie  contracted 
his  eyebrows.  "  Yes.  I  think  I  do  remember  the 
name." 

Carl  refreshed  his  memory. 

"  He  is  my  old  friend  and  classmate,  and  1  in- 
troduced him  to  }  ou  at  the  University  Com- 
mencement last  summer.  He  and  I  Avere  grad- 
uated at  the  same  time.  Cecil  writes  me  that  he 
has  decided  to  go  to  Europe  this  summer  to  study 
Art.  He  says  h^  wishes  t  >  spend  one  year  in 
Paris  and  afterward  spend  several  months  visit- 
ing the  most  famous  art  galleries  in  other  Euro- 
pean cities.  He  wants  to  join  Mr.  Leary's  party, 
and  so  writes  to  know  when  he  expects  to  go 
abroad,  and  all  the  particulars. 

"  In  about  two  weeks  he  will  be  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  says  if  Mr.  Leary  has  decided  to  leave 
at  about  that  time,  he  will  join  him  in  Philadel- 
phia and  accompany  him  to  New  York.  Now  if 
I  can  find  out  from  Mr.  Leary  to-day,  what  his 
plans  are,  I  can  write  Cecil  at  once.'' 

"  That  was  my  object  in  asking  you  to  go  with 
me  this  moniing, ''  said  his  uncle.  ''  It  was  to 
talk  this  matter  over.  But  I'll  run  through  mv 
mail  now,  and  in  about  an  hour  and  a  half  I'll 
meet  you  at  Mr.  Leary "s  office." 

Dr.  Leslie  curned  and  began  opening  his  let- 
ters. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  21 

Carl  still  lingered  in  the  room,  but  he  had 
moved  to  the  window  again.  In  the  interval  of 
silence  that  ensued  a  shadow  had  overspread 
Mrs.  Grayson's  usually  calm  face. 

Carl  stood  irresolute  for  a  second's  space,  then 
crossed  the  room  to  his  mother  and  stooped  and 
kissed  her;  then  suddenly  left  the  room. 

"  Dear  boy;  how  I  shall  miss  him  when  he's 
gone,"  Mrs.  Grayson  said,  as  if  talking  to  herself . 

She  sighed  softly,  took  up  the  magazine  and 
as  she  turned  to  quit  the  room  cast  a  swift 
glance  at  her  brother,  and  the  expression  on  his 
face  at  once  arrested  her  attention.  She  stopped 
abruptly.  He  was  intensely  absorbed  reading  a 
letter  which  was  closely  written  on  crisp  white 
note  paper,  and  of  considerable  length. 

As  he  eagerly  read  on.  thrusting  the  loose 
sheets  between  the  trellises  of  his  ringers,  an 
ashy  pallor  settled  on  his  countenauce.  He  pres- 
ently looked  up,  and  rose,  apparently  with  an 
effort. 

"  Helen,  come  with  me  into  the  sitting-room, " 
he  said;  ''  I  have  a  letter  to  submit  to  you,  and 
I  wish  your  advice." 

''  Certainly,  Ralph  ;  I  am  sorry  too  that  you've 
received  news  that  gives  you  pain,"  she  said 
very  gravely ;  then  followed  her  brother  to  the 
sitting-room,  and  when  she  had  entered  he 
handed  het  a  letter  which  was  post- marked  San 
Francisco,  and  directed  in  large  but  not  very 
legible  handwriting.  ^:' 

Then  he  drew  a  chair  near  the  centre  table 
confronting  her,  and  while  waiting  for  her  to 
read  the  letter,  battled  the  ground  over  and  over 
again  with  the  bitter  memories  of  the  past. 


M 


22  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  II. 

After  Mrs.  Grayson  had  read  the  letter  there 
came  a  singular  calm.  In  the  last  few  minutes 
she  appeared  to  have  grown  older,  her  face  i-e- 
flecting  the  expession  of  her  brother's  visage, 
from  which  all  life  seemed  to  have  gone  out. 

He  raised  his  eyes  to  her  face  and  saw  the  ex- 
pression of  expectancy  upon  it. 

"  I  have  so  much  confidence  in  your  judf;ineut. 
Helen,"  he  began.  '•  that  I  wish  your  advice  in 
a  matter  of  such  vital  importance  as  this.  Ar- 
nold's letter  demands  a  definite  and  immediate 
response." 

Dr.  Leslie's  tone  was  quiet,  and  in  a  measure 
he  had  regained  that  calm  superiority  of  manner 
which  habitually  characterized  his  bearing,  but 
which  a  momentary  weakness  had  shaken. 

Mrs.  Grayson  stopped  and  picked  up  a  part  of 
the  letter  that  had  shpped  to  the  floor,  and  when 
she  had  hfted  her  head,  her  face  was  suddenly 
agio  A  with  the  new,  noble  purpose  which  filled 
her  heart,  and  became  almost  radiant  as  she 
bravely  addressed  him. 

"  Ralph,  if  you  have  forgiven  Frank  Arnold 
for  aU  the  injury  and  sorrow  that  his  sin  and 
dupUcity  brought  upon  you  in  your  early  years 
— forgiven  him  for  robbing  you  of  so  much  that 
made  life  happy  and  beautiful— forgiven  your 
once  trusted  and  devotedly  loved  friend  for  com- 
ing between  you  and  the  one  woman  to  whom 
you  had  declared  your  love  and  hope — and  the 
memory  of  which  still  brings  mournful  shadows 
to  your  face — then  surely  your  own  heart  will 
dictate  to  you  the  best  answer  to  return  to  a  dy- 
ing man's'request,  when  he  asks  you  to  take  his 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  23 

orphan  child  under  your  roof  and  guardianship, 
and  be  to  her  a  counselor  and  a  protector. ' ' 

She  paused  and  looked  into  his  dark  gray  eyes, 
which  were  misty  with  tears.  She  put  out  her 
hand  and  laid  it  on  his.  The  soft  touch  of  the 
warm  palm  seemed  to  soothe  him. 

' '  Thank  you  Helen, ' '  he  said.  ' '  I  fully  com- 
prehend what  duty  requires  of  me,  and  your 
wise  reasoning  commends  itself  to  my  better  na- 
ture; but  for  a  time  I  was  so  jarred  and  stunned 
by  Arnold's  unexpected  and  extraordinary  letter 
that  I  was  quite  powerless  amidst  the  ebb  and  flow 
of  conflicting  emotions  to  determine  what  course 
best  to  pursue.  I  realize,  too,  the  grave  re- 
sponsibility I  must  assume  in  becoming  the 
counselor  and  guardian  of  Arnold's  child." 

"  Ealph,  my  sympathies  are  already  deeply 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  this  poor  child,  and  I  believe 
that  I  shall  love  her  very  dearly,  even  if  she  but 
be  half  as  lovely  as  her  father  has  represented. ' ' 

"  How  old  is  she  '?  I  do  not  remember  wliether 
Arnold  or  Mr.  Bently  stated." 

"  Singularly  enough  her  father  failed  to  men- 
tion her  age,  and  so  did  Mr.  Bently,  his  solicitor 
who  subjoined  the  postscript  on  a  separate  sheet 
after  Mr.  Arnold's  death,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson. 
''  iVs  she  is  the  youngest,  and  I  infer  from  this 
letter  the  only  surviving  child  of  three  children 
by  his  second  marriage,  presumably  she  is  not 
more  than  eight  or  nine  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Arnold  spoke  of  her  as  '  Little  Ruth  '  all  through 
his  letter. ' ' 

She  paused  a  moment,  then  went  on.  "  It  is 
passing  strange  to  me  that  he  should  have  called 
this  child  for  the  wife  whose  fair  young  life  he 
blighted,  and  whose  proud  sensitive  heart  he  so 


24  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

mercilessly  broke  after  one  short  year  of  married 
misery  and  neglect. ' ' 

There  was  a  tender  vibration  in  Mrs.  Grayson's 
voice,  as  if  she  were  trying  to  suppress  unbid- 
den tears. 

*'  When  was  Arnold's  letter  written  ?  " 

"  Oq  the  loth,  and  this  is  the  18th.  Should 
Mr.  Glenwood  and  his  family  leave  San  Francisco 
for  l\ew  York  the  first  week  in  June,  as  they 
purpose  doing — so  Mr.  Bently  writes — and  if 
Ruth  is  to  accompany  them  to  the  latter  city  in 
the  event  Mr.  Bently  hears  from  you  favorably 
before  they  start,  you  would  better  answer  his 
letter  by  return  mail. ' ' 

The  clock  on  the  mantel  struck  ten.  Dr.  Leslie 
rose  at  once.  "  It  is  useless  to  wait  dinner  for 
me,  Helen,''  he  said.  "■  I  had  hoped  to  dine  with 
you  ana  your  friends  to-day,  but  I  hardly  think 
I  shaQ  be  able  to  do  so  now.  I  shall  go  to  Leary's 
office  the  first  thing,  for  I  suspect  Carl  is  waiting 
for  me  there,  then  call  to  see  several  patients, 
and  afterward  come  by  Mrs.  Nelson's  to  see 
Daisy.  ' 

Mrs.  Grayson  made  no  answer,  for  her  brother 
crossed  the  room  while  he  was  still  talking, 
passed  on  to  the  veranda  and  called  to  Virgil  to 
saddle  his  horse. 

It  was  all  plain  now,  why  Leary  had  asked 
him  about  their  old  friends  in  California.  Doubt- 
less he  had  seen  an  account  of  Arnold's  death. 
He  winced  as  he  thought-  of  what  his  interview 
with  Mr.  Learv  must  inevitablv  lead  to  after  the 
matter  of  Carl's  trip  had  been  discussed  and 
arranged,  and  now  he  rather  shrank  from  meet- 
ing him — his  trusted  friend  too,  so  soon  after 
the  old  wound  had  been  probed. 

When  he  had  gone   Mrs.  Grayson  walked  to 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  25 

the  window  and  looked  vaguely  out  on  the  sun- 
shine gold  that  filtered  through  the  tender 
leaves  and  glinted  on  the  rippling  wavelets  in 
the  basin  of  the  fountain.  How  lovely  it  all  was ! 
There  seemed  nothing  to  mar  the  exquisiteness 
of  the  perfect  scene ;  and  yet  what  a  depth  of 
anguish  there  was  in  her  wearied  heart. 

So  vividly  came  to  her  as  she  stood  there,  the 
closing  lines  of  "  The  Tapestry  Weavers  "—that 
beautiful  poem  which  on  one  memorable  occa- 
sion she  had  heard  recited  with  such  thrilling- 
pathos  by  the  late  Henry  W,  Grady,  of  Geor- 
gia— the  Hero  of  his  nation — one  who  was  so 
generally  admired  and  so  much  beloved  that  to 
hundreds  of  thousands  throughout  the  sunny 
Southland  his  early  death  came  as  a  personal  be- 
reavement. 

She  seemed  strangely  lifted  up  by  the  ever- 
lasting Arms  of  Love  as  the  Angel  of  peace  sooth- 
ingly whispered: 

"  And  when  his  task  is  ended,  and  his  web  is  turned  and 

strown 
"He  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Master.     It  shall  sav  to 

him,  'Well  done!' 
"And  the  white-winged  angels  of    heaven,  to  bear  him 

hence,  sliall  come  down  ; 
"And  for  his  wage  shall  give  him,  not  coin,  but  a  golden 

crown." 

Nellie's  voice  broke  the  silence.  At  that  mo- 
ment she  came  laughing  and  romping  up  the 
serpentine  walk,  with  a  skip  and  a  bound,  swing- 
ing her  broad-brimmed  hat,  and  Bruce,  her  large 
New  Fouudland  dog,  racing  playfully  by  her  side. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  Nellie  ?  "  asked  Mrs. 
Grayson.  "  Your  slippers  are  muddy,  and  your 
sash  all  crumpled.  Come  here  and  let  me  ar- 
range it,  and  then  let  Julia  brush  your  slippers. " 

3 


26  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Mrs.  Grayson  gently  drew  Nellie  towards  her, 
smoothed  out  the  creased  folds  of  her  sash  and 
then  fastened  it.  Then  she  brushed  back  some 
of  the  straggling  strands  blown  from  her  flossy 
curls,  which  hung  like  tangled  silk  over  her  dim- 
pled shoulders. 

Nellie  looked  down  with  an  apologetical  ex- 
pression at  her  muddy  shoes,  then  round  at  her 
mother. 

"  I'm  so  sorry,  Mamma;  but  I've  been  to  the 
stable  to  see  Beppo,  Uncle  Ralph's  new  horse, 
and  Virgil  let  me  ride  him  two  or  three  times 
round  the  stable  lot.  Oh,  Mamma,  if  you  just 
would  buy  me  a  little  saddle — a  nice  little  side- 
saddle like  Amy  Finley's,  you  know,  Mamma? 
Virgil  says  I  may  ride  every  day,  and  then  I'll 
soon  learn  to  ride  as  nicely  as  Carl  or  Uncle 
Ealph.'' 

Mrs.  Grayson  smiled.  "  Very  well;  we'll  see 
about  it.  But  you  musn't  attempt  to  ride  Beppo 
alone  yet,  because  we  do  not  know  if  he  is  per- 
fectly safe  for  a  little  girl  to  ride.*' 

"  Why,  Mamma,  Virgil  says  he's  just  as  gen- 
tle as  Bruce,  and  I  think  he  must  be  too;  for 
when  Virgil  put  me  on  his  back  this  morning, 
Beppo  walked  off  just  like  he  was  used  to  little 
girls  riding  him,  and  I  wasn't  a  bit  afraid." 

Mrs.  Grayson  looked  at  Nellie  with  an  amused 
smile  as  she  quelled  in  herself  an  impulse  to 
laugh  at  her  artless  tactics.  But  despite  her 
effort  to  appear  cheerful,  the  sad,  melancholy 
air  came  back  to  her,  and  in  some  vague  way 
Nellie  had  the  feeling  of  being  held  in  check. 
During  the  next  few  seconds  many  different  ex- 
pressions flitted  over  her  face,  and  her  mother 
watching  her  said : 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  2T 

' '  I  am  going  to  have  some  friends  to  dine  with 
me  to-day,  and  as  I  shall  not  have  time  to  take 
Daisy's  flowers  to  her  this  morning,  suppose  you 
get  your  brother  to  drive  you  out  to  see  her  for 
me — you  go  and  ask  him  and  I  will  see  about 
dinner. 

"  Oh.  I  hope  he  will  go.  then  we  can  drive 
Beppo!"  said  Nellie  delightedly. 

As  Mrs.  Grayson  turned  to  leave  the  room, 
Nellie  suddenly  skipped  through  the  doorway 
ahead  of  her  mother,  and  the  dog  who,  under  a 
listless  attitude  had  been  covertly  regarding  her 
for  the  last  few  minutes,  fled  sportively  after  her 
in  full  chase. 


// 


2S  UNDER    GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  departure  of  Mr.  Leary  and  Carl  had  been 
delayed.  The  business  which  Mr.  Leary  had  to 
transact  involved  more  time  than  he  thought, 
so  it  was  quite  three  weeks  until  they  were  ready 
to  leave  for  New  York. 

Meanwhile,  Dr.  Leslie  had  promptly  written 
Mr,  Bently  (Mr.  Arnold's  sohcitor),  as  to  the 
time  and  place  he  and  his  sister  would  meet 
Mr.  Glenwood  and  Ruth. 

Mrs.  Grayson  had  arranged  to  leave  Nellie 
with  her  maiden  sister,  Miss  Rachel  Leslie,  an 
elderly  lady  of  a  rather  peculiar  temperament, 
))ut  withal,  very  friendly  and  kind-hearted. 

Carl  awoke  early  on  the  morning  of  his  de- 
parture, and,  while  dressing,  made  many  brave 
resolutions,  for  his  mother's  sake,  to  be  calm 
and  cheerful  when  the  final  hour  of  parting  had 
arrived. 

He  took  from  an  antlered  rack  a  slender,  sil- 
ver-mounted riding- whip,  the  pretty  gift  of  some 
lady  friend,  and  crept  noiselessly  down-stairs  in 
the  gray  twilight  of  the  scarcely  awakened 
household,  to  the  stables.  Saddling  his  horse, 
and  mounting,  he  rode  forth  into  the  exhilarat- 
ing sweetness  of  the  morning  air.  He  wanted 
to  enjoy  one  more  canter  on  Beppo,  he  said  to 
himself,  before  he  left,  and  to  get  more  heart 
and  nerve  into  himself. 

He  cast  a  swift  glance  at  the  quiet  house,  then 
turned  and  rode  rapidly  away  toward  the  beau- 
tiful boulevards  in  the  western  part  of  the  city. 

After  an  hour's  absence  he  returned  strength- 
ened and  refreshed.     The  sun  had  risen,  and  as 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  29 

it  threw  its  mantle  of  gold  over  the  stirring  city 
the  sullen  shadows  retreated. 

Carl  rode  through  a  small  gate  opening  into 
the  yard  or.  the  right  of  the  house  and  stopped, 
still  sitting  in  the  saddle  while  he  looked  over 
the  familiar  scene  as  if  trying  to  impress  its 
vivid  outlines  and  every  detail  upon  his  memory. 
Never  before  had  the  beauty  of  the  dear  old 
place  struck  him  so  keenly  as  now  when  he  was 
going  to  leave  it.  Even  inanimate  things  be- 
came dearer;  but  when  he  saw  Aunt  Milly,  his 
old  nurse,  come  out  of  the  house  and  walk  slowly 
toward  him.  suddenly  an  anticipative  homesick- 
ness came  over  him  and  a  gathering  mistiness 
blurred  his  view. 

' '  Good  morning,  Aunt  Milly — where  is  Vir- 
gil ?  "  Carl  greeted  and  questioned  her  in  the 
same  breath,  struggling  to  speak  in  a  level  tone 
and  to  subdue  the  emotion  which  almost  over- 
came him. 

"  He's  at  the  stable,  I  b'leve.  Mus'  I  call 
him  ?  "  She  glanced  round,  but  went  on,  "  You 
don't  know  how  sorry  I  'm  honey  you're  gwine 
away,  an'  I  feard  your  ole  nussy  won't  see  you 
any  mo'.  Spects  I'll  be  dead  and  gone  long  'fore 
you  come  back — you  ever  come  back  again, "  said 
Aunt  Milly  with  melancholy  meekness,  coming- 
closer  and  resting  her  right  hand,  in  her  old  con- 
fidential way,  upon  the  pommel  of  the  saddle. 

"  Oh,  I  hope  not.  Aunt  Milly.  I'm  coming- 
back  again  before  a  great  while — and  you  know 
Europe  is  not  so  far  away  now  as  it  used  to  be. " 

To  Aunt  Milly's  incredulous  stare  Carl  has- 
tened to  explain — ' '  That  is,  people  can  go  there 
and  return  in  a  much  shorter  time  than  they 
used  to,  they  have  better  ships  now  and  they 


so  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

know  better  how  to  manage  them,  for  they've 
got  more  knowledge  about  such  things — that's 
what  I  mean,  I'll  not  forget  you  while  Fm 
away,  Aunt  Milly;  and  now  that  I've  got  the 
opportunity,  I  want  to  thank  you  for  your  faith- 
fulness and  all  your  kindness  to  mother,  Nellie 
and  me.  I  can't  begin  to  tell  you  half  how  much 
I  appreciate  it,  but  I  assure  you  I  shall  never 
forget  it.  I  hope  j^ou  and  Virgil  will  remain 
here  with  Uncle  Ealph,  and  that  I  shall  find  you 
both  here  on  my  return.  I  know  he  will  always 
provide  well  for  you,  and  not  allow  you  to  suffer 
or  want  for  anything. ' ' 

''  Yes,  I  know  that,  chile",  cause  he's  alius 
done  it  since  I've  been  freed  an'  'fore  too.  Ise 
been  liviu'  with  white  folks  so  long  till  it  'pears 
I  can't  get  used  to  livin'  with  no  other — an'  then 
you-all  white  chillun  that  I  nuss'd  seem  jes'  as 
near  an'  dear  to  me  as  my  own  chillun."  Aunt 
Milly  was  full  of  all  kinds  of  the  best  instincts, 
and  she  said  this  with  great  seriousness  and  the 
nearest  approach  to  tears.  She  meant  every 
word  of  it.  Then  she  took  her  hand  from  the 
saddle  and  fumbled  down  for  a  corner  of  her 
ample  apron, 

Carl  felt  strongly  moved  to  sympathy  at  the 
sight  of  Aunt  Milly's  grief,  and  to  maintain  his 
outward  composure  said  huskily,  as  he  made  a 
gesture  to  move  on,  "  I'll  see  you  again.  Aunt 
Milly,  before  I  start.  I  want  to  see  Virgil  just 
nov>r. ' '  He  reached  down  and  artfully  slipped  a 
gold  double  eagle  into  her  dusky  palm,  and 
turned  suddenly  and  rode  to  the  stables  w^here 
he  found  Virgil  putting  Beppo's  feed  into  his 
trough.  Dismounting,  he  talked  with  him  a  few 
minutes,  i3atting  the  horses  by  w^ay  of  a  parting 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  31 

caress,  then  walked  rapidly  toward  the  house: 
but  not  until  he  had  done  something  to  draw 
forth  an  eloquent  soliloquy  from  Virgil  as  soon 
as  he  was  out  of  ear-shot. 

"Clever  man,  Mr.  Carl  is — nothing  mean  about 
him — generous  as  a  prince,  just  hke  the  doctor — 
believes  in  paying  a  fellow  well  for  what  he 
does. ' '  He  slipped  his  hand  down  into  his  pocket, 
took  out  some  silver  and  counted  it. 

''  Phew!  enough  to  get  that  evening  dress  suit 
down  at  Dallinger's  &  Co. — just  like  Mr.  Carl's, 
though  his  may  be  something  finer.  Ugh !  guess 
I'll  be  '  in  the  swim. '  " 

Breakfast  was  hurriedly  dispatched  that  morn 
ing,  and  for  once  everyone  seemed  disposed  to 
slight  Aunt  Milly's  most  temptingly  prepared 
dishes,  so  the  meal  was  barely  more  than  a  mere 
form. 

The  morning  was  bright,  serene  and  beautiful, 
not  a  cloud  in  the  sapphire  sky  so  far  aloof,  and 
the  pure,  fresh  air  bore  the  perfume  of  the  flow- 
ers and  the  song  of  the  birds. 

The  metal  crosses  cresting  the  tall  church 
spires  emblazoned  the  golden  radiance  of  the 
morning's  sun,  and  outlined  with  vivid  distinct- 
ness the  graceful  proportions  of  the  handsome 
edifices. 

So  much  Carl  saw  at  the  first  quick  glance  as 
they  drove  through  the  busy  thoroughfares  of 
the  city  on  their  way  to  the  R.  &  D.  station; 
and  then  he  tried  to  catch  a  last  photographic 
glimpse  of  all  the  familiar  places  about  him,  and 
at  the  same  time  get  consolation  out  of  the  hope 
that  during  his  studious  sojourn  abroad  the  time 
would  pass  rapidly,  and  really  would  not  seem 
so  very  long  after  all,  before  he  should  return  to 
his  dear  native  city. 


32  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES:    OR 


He  felt  sure  that  he  should  never  love  any- 
other  place  half  so  well.  Then  he  fell  into  a  re- 
flective train  of  thought  about  it.  Undoubtedly 
it  was  the  coming  city  of  his  State,  and  as  a  citi- 
zen and  a  Southerner  he  felt  proud  of  it.  The 
growth  and  development  of  the  place  in  the  last 
decade  had  been  marvellous,  and  certainly  there 
was  nothing  to  hinder  its  continued  rapid  prog- 
ress. 

There  was  more  genuine  public  spirit,  more 
unity  of  purpose,  and  more  organization  among 
the  business  men  than  were  to  be  found  in  most 
Southern  cities.  These  were  the  things  that  in- 
sured the  growth  of  a  community,  and  herein 
he  felt  sure  had  been  much  of  the  city's  strength 
in  the  past.  As  he  looked  out  upon  the  broad, 
busy  streets,  lined  with  handsome  business  houses 
and  elegant  private  residences,  he  exulted  to 
himself,  not  vain-gioriously,  but  with  a  sense  of 
pardonable  pride,  that  the  city  had  indeed  a  pros- 
perity that  was  unsurpassed  and  a  future  that 
was  in  the  highest  degree  encouraging.  Then, 
with  an  honest  inspiration  kindling  his  generous 
heart,  he  felt  as  if  he  should  likp  to  extend  a 
hearty  invitation  to  the  thousands  of  homeseek- 
ers  and  capitalists  of  the  North  and  West  to  come 
and  cast  their  fortunes  in  such  a  progressive 
city,  which,  with  its  health-giving  atmosphere 
charged  with  ozone,  and  its  matchless,  invigorat- 
ing climate,  was  incomparably  superior  to  any 
other  place  that  he  knew  of.  Yes,  it  was  one 
of  the  brightest,  breeziest,  pluckiest  cities  in  the 
State,  he  said  to  himself,  and  it  cost  him  pangs 
of  keenest  misery  to  leave  it  even  for  the  short 
space  of  two  years. 

Carl,  like  his  Uncle  Ealph,  had  much  State  as 
well  as  local  pride.     He  knew  that  good  people 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  38 

were  always  welcome  in  his  State,  as  well  as  in 
his  town ;  and  the  inducements  in  the  way  of 
climate  and  soil  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  State  could  not  be  surpassed. 

How  infinitely  happy  the  thousands  of  desira- 
ble imraigiants — who  were  steered  every  year  t:» 
the  prairies  of  the  far  West,  where  they  made 
investments  of  capital  and  labor,  and  could  not 
get  away — would  l)e  if  living  in  a  country  so  im- 
mensely rich  in  natural  resources  as  his  own  na- 
tive State  with  its  beautiful  soil — too  much  of  it 
unproductive  and  uncleared  simply  because  her 
resources  had  not  been  properly  displayed  to 
them.  He  hoped  that  North  Carolina  would 
make  such  a  creditable  exhibit  of  her  existing 
conditions  and  future  possibilities  at  the  great 
World's  Fair,  that  the  thousands  of  sight-seers 
who  went  thither  might  get  at  least  a  faint  con- 
ception of  the  wonderful  treasures  she  held,  and 
many  of  them  be  induced  to  come  and  see  for 
themselves  that  she  had  combined  advantages 
that  no  other  State  in  the  laud  could  boast. 

Arrived  at  the  station,  they  found  quite  a  coterie 
of  their  friends  assembled  to  bid  them  good-bye. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leary  and  their  daughter,  Kate, 
were  in  the  ladies'  Avaiting-room — the  latter  a 
tall,  graceful,  pretty  brunette,  becomingly  gowned 
in  a  silver-gray  traveling  suit  of  stylish  cut  and 
finish,  and  a  jaunty  gray  hat  to  match.  She 
stood  near  the  open  doorway,  her  face  full  of  the 
glow  of  anticipation,  talking  in  an  animated 
way  but  with  great  ease  and  simplicity  to  Dr. 
Seaton,  the  handsome  and  popular  young  phy- 
sician associated  with  Dr.  Leslie  in  his  practice. 

She  gave  the  Leslie  party  a  smiling  glance  of 
recognition  when  they  entered  the  waiting-room, 
and   presently,  after   exchanging  a  few    words 


34  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

with  some  acquaintances  standing  near,  she  and 
Dr.  Seaton  crossed  the  room  to  Dr.  LesUe,  Carl 
and  Mrs.  Grayson,  spoke  very  cordially  to  them, 
and  included  themselves  in  their  party. 

The  railway  journey,  full  of  novelty  and  in- 
terest, as  all  such  journeys  generally  are,  was, 
however,  a  rather  uneventful  one.  At  Washing- 
ton City,  Cecil  Brian  joined  them,  meeting  Carl 
with  the  cheery  salutation,  ' '  Well !  here  we  are ; 
and  I'm  glad  to  see  a  familiar  face!  " 

As  he  took  the  seat  next  to  Carl,  Miss  Leary 
noted  his  easy,  well-bred  manner,  and  but  for 
the  unusual  pallor  which  seemed  never  to  leave 
his  face,  she  would  have  thought  him  handsome. 
They  were  about  as  unlike  as  two  men  could  be, 
in  outward  appearance,  at  least.  Carl  Grayson, 
with  his  laughing  blue  eyes — or  were  they  gray  ? 
— ^fair  hair,  broad,  high  forehead,  straight  well- 
cut  nose  and  firm -set,  handsome  mouth,  showed 
him  a  man  upon  whom  opportunities  had  been 
showered. 

Cecil  Brian,  with  his  low,  musical  voice,  ten- 
der, dreamy  eyes,  dark  silky  hair  and  nervously 
expressive  mouth,  was  just  the  picture  her  fancy 
had  already  evoked  of  this  artist  friend,  of 
whom  she  had  frequently  heard  Carl  speak  so 
warmly.  She  believed  he  was  a  man  who  cared 
for  nothing  but  the  idol  of  his  life — his  Art !  She 
was  quite  sure  that  she  should  not  like  him.  But 
as  she  sat  watching  him,  with  true  womanly 
perversity  she  found  herself  assuming  a  deeper 
interest  in  him,  and  it  was  while  she  was  tacitly 
constructing  episodes  of  interest  in  their  coming 
sea- voyage,  in  which  the  artist  was  the  central 
figure  and  played  a  conspicuous  part,  that  they 
reached  Jersey  City,  just  as  the  twilight  was 
filming  the  air. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  35 

Myriads  of  dazzling  lights  seemed  to  hang,  like 
suspended  stars,  just  out  of  reach,  while  they 
flung  their  broken  glow  over  the  circling,  shad- 
owy waters.  In  the  midst  of  the  turmoil  and 
crowding  and  pushing  to  and  fro.  they  crossed 
the  ferry,  took  cabs  and  were  driven  directly  to 
the  St.  Denis,  that  popular  hotel  far  down  town, 
where  Dr.  Leslie  had  arranged  to  meet  the  Glen- 
woods  and  Ruth — and,  too,  where  they  could 
avail  themselves  of  certain  delightful  privileges 
to  be  found  there,  such  as  the  traveler  so  much 
appreciates  when  absent  from  the  familiar  at- 
mosphere of  home. 

In  fact,  Mrs.  Grayson  declared  that  she  didn't 
believe  she  could  ever  feel  half  so  much  at  home 
anywhere  else  in  the  city;  and  Miss  Leary's  en- 
thusiastic greeting  on  first  meeting  her  in  the 
parlor,  several  hours  after  they  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  their  comfortable  quarters,  was  simply 
an  echo  of  Mrs.  Grayson's  unexpressed  verdict : 
"  Isn't  the  charm  and  coziness  here  delightfully 
homelike  ? ' ' 

Indeed,  this  peculiar  charm  of  which  Miss 
Leary  spoke  is  one  that  a  person  recognizes  at 
once  wherever  it  exists,  for  it  seems  to  pervade 
the  very  air  one  breathes  and  produces  a  sense 
of  quiet  content  and  restfulness. 

Dr.  Leslie  ascertained  soon  after  their  arrival 
that  the  Glenwoods  had  not  yet  come,  but  the 
proprietor  informed  him  that  he  had  been  noti- 
fied to  reserve  rooms,  and  these  he  should  hold 
subject  to  their  order  till  he  heard  further  from 
them. 

The  next  day  Dr.  Leslie  and  Mrs.  Grayson 
went  to  see  Carl  and  the  Leary  party  off  on  the 
Germanic. 


36  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  IV. 

When  Dr.  Leslie  and  Mrs.  Grayson  returned 
to  the  hotel,  Mrs.  Grayson  went  at  once  to  hei- 
room.  She  felt  that  she  must  be  alone,  her  heart 
ached  so. 

"  I  shall  come  for  you  at  six  o'clock  to  go  to 
dinner,  and  I  hope  you  will  be  feeling  better  by 
then, ' '  said  her  brother. 

The  dining-room  was  alive  with  bright  faces 
and  gay,  subdued  chatter  when  they  entered,  and 
from  the  table  where  the  waiter  had  seated  them 
they  could  observe  persons  coming  and  going, 
see  many  of  the  occupants  about  them,  and  at 
the  same  time  note  the  beautiful  and  artistic 
effects  of  this  changing  panorama  in  the  mag- 
nificent Colonial  room. 

The  soft-footed  waiters  seemed  to  move  to  the 
musical  tinkle  of  the  bright  crystal  and  china, 
and  when  the  one  who  served  them  solicitously 
handed  Mrs.  Grayson  a  menu  card  and  she  had 
made  out  her  order,  her  attention  was  attracted 
to  a  group  of  four  persons — ^an  elderly  lady  and 
gentleman  and  two  girls,  apparently  about  the 
same  age,  sitting  at  a  table  diagonally  across 
from  her,  with  several  tables  intervening. 

The  elderly  couple  had  their  backs  to  her,  but 
the  two  girls  who  sat  opposite  them  were  facing 
her.  From  their  dress  and  general  bearing  they 
were  evidently  people  of  culture  and  recognized 
distinction.  As  she  observed  them  more  closely, 
she  started  perceptibly,  for  some  indefinable  ex- 
pression, vague  at  first,  in  the  delicate,  aristo- 
cratic face  of  the  young  girl  with  the  lovely  blue 
eyes  and  blonde  hair  was  strangely  familiar  to 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  37 

her,  and  she  struggled  with  her  memory  to  re- 
call an  earlier  acquaintance,  if  it  had  existed. 
But  like  a  shadowy  reminiscence,  struggling  to 
take  definite  form,  it  evaded  her,  and  at  last 
wearied  with  the  torturing  effort  to  coerce  mem- 
ory to  acknowledge  the  recognition,  she  tried  to 
turn  away  from  it,  when  suddenly  like  a  flash — 
a  revelation — it  came  to  her  wherein  the  famil- 
iarity was  suggestive. 

"  Ralph,"  she  said  in  a  low  tone,  "  I  wonder 
who  those  people  are  at  the  table  across  from 
us  ?  There  is  something  in  the  features  of  the 
girl  with  fair  hair  and  blue  eyes  that  reminds 
me  very  much  of  Carl.  Look;  don't  you  think 
so? 

"  Why,  Helen,  how  absurd  j  It  is  simply  be- 
cause you  are  thinking  of  Carl  that  you  fancy 
you  see  a  likeness — that  is  all. 

Dr.  Leslie  had  lowered  his  voice  in  imitation 
of  his  sister,  and  followed  the  direction  of  her 
eyes  as  she  glanced  across  the  room.  Presently 
his  eyes  came  back  to  his  plate,  and  he  said  with 
much  earnestness: 

"  I  believe  you  are  right,  Helen,  there  is  un- 
mistakably a  resemblance."  Then,  after  a  mo- 
ment's pause,  he  added,  "  Perhaps  they  are  the 
people  we  are  expecting  to  meet  here — oar  cous- 
ins." 

' '  Who,  the  Glenwoods  ?  ' '  asked  Mrs.  Grayson 
in  surprise,  raising  her  eyebrows. 

"Yes,  the  Glenwoods,"  echoed  Dr.  Leslie, 
suddenly  growing  abstracted. 

Mrs.  Grayson  shook  her  head.  "I  hardly 
think  so." 

"  Well,  we  shall  soon  have  an  opportunity  to 
find  out,"  her  brother  returned.     Then  glancing 


38  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

at  her  plate,  he  asked:  "  Why  don't  you  eat 
something  ?  You  are  merely  trifling  with  your 
food.  I  was  in  hopes  when  you  came  down 
you  would  enjoy  your  dinner,  but  you've  scarcely 
done  more  than  taste  one  or  two  dishes." 

''It's  no  use,  Ralph,  I  can't  eat,  so  I'll  not  keep 
up  a  pretence  of  doing  so,"  she  said,  pushing  her 
plate  away.  There  was  a  brief  pause,  then  she 
added  with  a  faint  smile,  "I'm  glad  to  see  that 
you  can  do  justice  to  your  dinner,  even  if  I  can't 
to  mine." 

Her  eyes  wandered  across  the  room  again  to 
the  girl  with  the  clear,  rose-tinted  complexion, 
who  fascinated  her.  She  was  indeed  very  pretty, 
and  as  she  talked  to  the  elderly  lady  confronting 
her — who  seemed  tio  listen  very  patiently — the 
lips  wreathed  in  smiles  and  the  bright  eyes  flash- 
ing, there  was  a  gay  grace  and  charm  about  her 
highly  prepossessing,  and  Mrs.  Grayson  thought 
the  resemblance  to  Carl  became  every  moment 
more  apparent. 

Presently  she  turned  to  her  brother:  "  Ralph, 
I  am  quite  convinced  now  that  these  people  are 
the  Glen  woods;  and  the  girl  I  think  so  much 
like  Carl,  is  Agnes,  their  daughter.  It  must 
be,"  Mrs.  Grayson  said  slowly  and  with  deep 
emphasis. 

"'  But  where  is  the  child — Ruth  Arnold  I 
mean  ?  ' '  asked  Dr.  Leslie  curiously,  at  the  same 
time  helping  himself  to  a  dish  whose  delicious 
flavor  was  temptingly  appetizing. 

"Yes,  where  is  she,  sure  enough?"  she  re- 
peated with  a  puzzled  look,  and  knitting  her 
brows.  The  next  moment  her  eyes  widened  in- 
voluntarily, and  she  said  almost  in  a  breathless 
whisper,    "  Unless — yes — I  do    believe   it — that 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  39 

the  girl  in  black,  with  the  sad,  sweet  face  must 
be  she.  She  is  beautiful,  too.  We've  been  think- 
ing of  her  all  along  as  a  mere  child — simply  our 
own  supposition — and  she  is  not  at  all. ' '  Mrs. 
Grayson  spoke  with  earnest  conviction,  as 
though  she  had  suddenly  received  a  prophetic 
clue. 

Dr.  Leslie  did  not  leply,  but  there  was  a  puz- 
zled look  on  his  face  as  the  truth  began  to  dawn 
upon  him,  and  yet  it  seemed  almost  impossible 
for  him  to  believe  that  the  fair,  beautiful  girl 
could  be  the  little  Ruth  he  had  promised  to  be- 
friend— the  little  Ruth  he  had  to  come  to  New 
York  to  meet.  It  seemed  queer  to  him,  too,  that 
he  was  to  act  the  part  of  guardian  to  that  girl. 

He  looked  across  the  room  and  covertly  and 
keenly  studied  the  fair,  sweet  face.  She  was 
very  beautiful,  as  Mrs.  Grayson  had  said. 

The  eyes  were  large  and  luminous  and  appeal- 
ing; eyes  that  seemed  to  hold  a  mystery  in  their 
fathomless  depths,  and  were  calm  almost  to  sad- 
ness even  when  she  smiled — even  "  as  the  mist 
resembles  the  rain,"  and  shaded  by  long  sweep- 
ing lashes  several  shades  darker  than  the  care- 
less curls  of  golden  brown  hair  which  waved 
upon  her  high,  broad  forehead.  The  tremulous 
mouth  was  exquisite,  and  when  she  smiled  there 
was  a  pathetic  sadness  about  the  rosy  lips  that 
enhanced  their  charm.  The  throat  and  neck 
were  of  milky  whiteness,  and  their  perfect  poise 
as  graceful  as  the  swan's. 

While  he  was  observing  her  the  group  arose 
from  the  table,  and  the  elderly  couple  followed 
by  the  two  girls  moved  toward  the  elevator  in 
the  hall.  Dr.  Leslie  continued  to  regard  the  lit- 
tle figure  in  black,  for  he  was  quite  satisfied  now 


40  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

that  the  girl  was  Ruth,  his  ward,  as  he  had  rec- 
ognized the  elderly  gentleman  and  lady  as  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Glenwood  when  they  got  up  from  the 
table,  though  both  were  greatly  changed. 

He  observed,  too,  that  the  girl  was  of  medium 
height  and  very  graceful,  the  black  dress  fitting 
to  perfection  every  curve  and  line  of  her  willowy 
figure,  which  was  of  faultless  symmetry.  He 
wondered  no  longer  why  her  father  spoke  of  her 
as  ' '  Little  Ruth. ' '  There  was  a  daintiness  and 
charm  about  her  which  suggested  the  diminutive 
phrase. 

"  Of  course  we  must  send  up  our  cards  at 
once,  ° '  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  as  she  and  her  brother 
moved  away  from  the  table.  "  Ella  Glenwood 
is  so  changed  I  scarcely  recognized  her,  and 
George,  too.  looks  much  older  than  I  expected  to 
see  him.^' 

"  Certainly  he  looks  older  than  when  you  saw 
him  last.  You  must  recollect  it  has  been  some 
years  since  we  left  them  in  California,''  he  said, 
smiling  indulgently. 

They  had  reached  the  elevator  and  stood  wait- 
ing for  it  to  descend.  "  Wait  here  a  moment 
please,  Helen,"'  said  Dr.  Leslie,  and  he  turned 
suddenly  away  and  she  lost  sight  of  him  in  the 
circling  crowd.  In  a  few  minutes  he  came  back, 
smiling.  "  I've  been  to  the  office  to  look  at  the 
register  and  to  make  sure  of  our  conjectures 
about  the  girl  dressed  in  black.  She  is  Ruth 
Arnold!" 

"Why,  didn't  I  tell  you  so'?'*  asked  Mrs. 
Grayson  with  a  touch  of  gentle  reproach  in  her 
tone. 

"That's  very  true,"  he  responded  calmly, 
*'  but  in  this  instance  I  thought  it  was  best  to 
make  assurance  doubly  sure. ' ' 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  41 


ii 


Yes,  I  suppose  so, ' '  she  assented  absently. 

They  had  entered  the  elevator  and  were  swiftly 
approaching  the  floor  upon  which  their  apart- 
ments were  located.  Before  getting  out,  Dr. 
Leslie  handed  the  elevator  boy  two  cards,  and 
instructed  him  what  to  do  with  them. 

Half  way  down  the  corridor  to  their  rooms, 
Dr.  Leslie  chanced  to  meet  an  old  acquaintance; 
and  loitering  a  few  minutes  to  talk  with  him, 
finally  joined  his  sister,  who  had  passed  on  and 
waited  for  him,  and  he  walked  with  her  to  her 
room. 

While  waiting  for  an  answer  to  their  cards, 
Mrs.  Grayson  filled  up  the  interval  making  some 
trifling  changes  in  her  toilet,  and  presently  a 
knock  at  her  door  made  her  start  and  turn.  It 
was  her  brother,  however,  who  occupied  the 
room  adjoining  her  own. 

' '  Helen,  the  messenger  boy  brought  this  to 
my  room,  but  it  is  for  you, ' '  he  said,  handing 
her  a  card. 

'•Thank  you.''  She  took  the  bit  of  square 
card-board,  upon  which  was  penciled  in  a  ner- 
vous, effeminate  hand  these  lines,  which  she 
read  aloud :  ' '  Dear  Helen :  We  shall  be  pleased 
to  meet  you  both  in  the  hotel  parlor,  where  we 
await  your  coming.  Truly  your  cousin,  Ella 
Glenwood. ' ' 

Mrs.  Grayson  was  silent  a  moment,  absently 
scanning  the  card. 

"AVell?"  Dr.  Leslie  asked. 

"  Of  course  we'll  go  down  at  once.  It  seems 
almost  like  meeting  total  strangers ;  it  has  been 
so  long  since  we  parted  with  them,"  said  Mrs. 
Grayson.  She  picked  up  her  fan  from  the  table, 
gave  a  hurried  glance  at  the  mirror,  then  turned 
4 


42  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

and  accompanied  him,  feeling  somewhat  nervous 
as  they  descended  to  the  parlor. 

Mrs.  Glen  wood,  a  tall,  stately-looking  woman, 
with  black  hair  and  eyes  and  a  rather  dull  com- 
plexion, was  sitting  on  a  divan  reading,  apart 
from  Mr.  Grlenwood  and  the  girls;  she  arose  at 
their  entrance,  gave  them  a  glance  of  searching- 
scrutiny,  then  took  off  her  glasses  and  came 
rustling  forward  to  meet  them  with  that  con- 
scious air  of  possession  characteristic  of  irre- 
proachable ancestry. 

The  habitual  haughty  expression  on  the  face 
of  the  proud,  ambitious  woman  softened,  and 
her  polished  reserve  relaxed  into  something  like 
cordiality  as  she  greeted  them. 

' '  Ah !  this  is  indeed  a  pleasure, ' '  she  said,  ex- 
tending her  hand,  and  kissing  Mrs.  Grayson, 
who  returned  her  kiss  and  embrace;  and  then 
she  gave  a  friendly  hand  to  Dr.  Leslie,  who 
bowed  gracefully  over  it.  '•  You  are  so  little 
altered.  Cousin  Ralph,  since  we  last  met,"  she 
went  on,  looking  steadily  at  him,  "  I  believe  I 
should  have  recognized  yoa  almost  anywhere 
without  a  previous  knowledge  of  your  presence. 
Time  has  indeed  been  lenient  with  you." 

He  inclined  his  head,  smiling,  in  recognition 
of  this  civil  observation. 

"  When  did  you  arrive  in  New  York?"  she 
asked,  transferring  her  glance  from  one  to  the 
other,  as  she  toyed  with  her  glasses. 

"  Tuesday  evening,  and  we  expected  to  have 
found  you  here, ' "  said  Dr.  Leslie. 

Her  reply  was  prevented  by  Mr.  Glenwood 
and  the  young  ladies  coming  forward  at  that 
moment,  and  when  the  former  had  exchanged 
very  hearty  greetings   with  Mrs.   Grayson  and 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  4B 

Dr.  Leslie,  Mrs.  Glenwood  turned  to  the  girls, 
who  stood  waiting  to  be  presented.  She  looked 
suggestively  toward  Ruth,  and  with  a  gentle 
wave  of  her  hand  she  said,  turning  to  Dr.  Lsslie: 

•'  This  is  Miss  Arnold,  your  ward,  Dr.  Leslie; 
and  I  assure  you  it  gives  me  very  much  pleasure 
to  confide  so  dear  a  charge  to  your  guardian- 
ship; and  this  is  Mrs.  Grayson,"  she  added,  pre- 
senting Ruth  to  her  in  turn. 

Dr.  Leslie  stepped  forward  and  with  chivalric 
grace  and  courtesy  took  the  timidly  outstretched 
hand,  clasping  it  warmly  in  his  own. 

Then  Mrs.  Grayson,  with  an  air  of  motherly 
dignity,  approached  and  kissed  her  very  ten- 
derly on  either  cheek,  warmly  pressed  her  hand, 
and  uttered  in  a  low,  sweet  voice  the  kindest 
of  greetings  and  welcome. 

There  was  a  conscious  feeling  of  relief  to 
everyone  present  when  this  introduction  was 
over;  but  Mrs.  Glenwood  was  too  thoroughly 
skilled  in  the  strict  conventionalities  of  polite 
society,  and  possessed  too  much  tact,  not  to  be 
able  to  prevent  an  awkward  pause  or  an  awk- 
ward speech  after  this  embarrassing  interview 
had  ended.  Laying  her  jewelled  hand  on  Agnes' 
arm,  she  gently  pressed  her  forward. 

''  Let  me  present  to  you  our  daughter  Agnes. " 
In  the  prettiest  and  most  becoming  of  summer 
travehng  toilets,  garnished  with  a  small  cluster 
of  cream  roses  which  she  had  fastened  in  her 
belt,  and  the  bright  flush  and  changmg  hght 
coming  and  going  over  her  pretty  face,  she  ad- 
vanced gracefully  first  to  Mrs.  Grayson,  and  in 
a  manner  characteristic  of  herself,  embraced  her 
with  effusion,  adding  as  she  still  clasped  her 
hand,    "  I've   heard   mamma  speak  of   you   so 


44  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

often,  Cousin  Helen,  that  I've  never  regarded 
you  as  a  stranger,  so  I  cannot  meet  you  as  one 
now." 

"Thank you,  Agnes,"  responded  Mrs.  Grayson, 
who  had  returned  her  caresses  as  warmly  as  they 
had  been  given.  "It  is  very  pleasant,  I  assure 
you,  to  be  so  kindly  remembered.  Your  mother 
and  I  were  classmates  when  we  were  not  quite 
so  old  as  you  are  now,  and  I  often  recur  to  those 
happy  days  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure." 

To  her  cousin  Ralph  Agnes  gave  a  different 
welcome,  though  none  the  less  frank  and  cordial. 
Dr.  Leslie  met  her  very  graciously,  paying  her 
some  gallant,  graceful  compliment  which  sent 
the  crimson  tide  surging  in  her  lovely  face.  By 
his  impulse  they  had  moved  to  a  group  of  chairs 
in  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  now  seated  them- 
selves. 

Ruth  sat  beside  Mrs.  Grayson,  apparently  lis- 
tening to  the  conversation,  but  inwardly  feeling 
no  inclination  to  join  in  or  even  contribute  to  it. 
At  times  she  stole  furtive  glances  at  her  guar- 
dian as  he  conversed  with  Mrs.  Glenwood, 
making  various  and  minute  inquiries  concerning 
his  old  friends  in  California.  She  saw  that  he 
was  handsome  in  face  and  figure,  and  while  he 
was  not  young,  yet  he  certainly  was  not  elderly. 

She  had  expected  to  see  a  much  older  man, 
with  gray  hair,  perhaps,  and  at  least  a  sugges- 
tion of  wrinkles,  and  she  was  surprised  when  she 
saw  neither.  Presently,  during  a  brief  lapse  in 
the  conversation,  he  turned  and  looked  at  her  as 
if  conscious  of  her  covert  glances. 

Before  he  spoke,  he  wavered  a  moment 
whether  to  address  her  conventionally  by  her 
surname,  or  more  familiarly  as   "Miss  Ruth." 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  45 

Evidently  he  thought  better  of  the  latter  formula, 
for  when  he  presently  turned  to  her  and  asked : 

"  Miss  Ruth,  have  you  ever  visited  the 
South?"  it  sounded  easy  and  natural,  and  she 
returned  with  unconsious  grace  the  answer : 

"  Oh,  yes;  but  it  was  when  I  was  quite  a  lit- 
tle girl.  I  spent  one  winter  in  St.  Augustine, 
Florida,  with  papa  and  mamma,  but  I  do  not 
recollect  very  much  about  the  place  or  the  peo- 
ple. I  do  remember,  however,  that  it  was  a 
very  quaint  old  town ;  but  its  antiquity  was  re- 
spectable and  dignified  even  in  its  fading  glory, 
and  its  picturesque  situation  and  surroundings, 
its  unique  history  and  achievements,  as  also  its 
pure  air  and  water,  had  a  peculiar  charm  for  me. 
That  is  about  the  extent  of  my  personal  knowl- 
edge and  recollection  of  the  South. ' ' 

The  sweet  voice  was  a  little  unsteady  when 
she  alluded  to  her  parents,  and  it  grew  more 
soft  and  reverential  as  she  went  on : 

"  Papa  always  spoke  with  such  fond  admira- 
tion of  North  Carolina  that  I  am  quite  prepared 
to  love  his  native  State  very  much  for  his  sake, 
if  for  no  other  reason, ' ' 

"  Cousin  Ealph,  I  think  you'll  find  in  Ruth 
an  easy  proselyte,  and  I  dare  say  in  less  than 
six  months  after  she's  been  in  North  Carolina 
she'll  be  as  disloyal  to  California  as  though  she 
had  never  hved  there,"  laughed  Agnes,  affect- 
ing a  look  of  rebuke  at  Ruth  and  playfully  tap  • 
ping  her  on  the  hand  ^ith  her  fan. 

"  Oh,  no,  I  don't  think  so,"  returned  Dr.  Les- 
he  quietly.  ''In  the  first  place,  no  influence 
will  be  brought  to  bear  upon  her  to  test  her  loy- 
alty in  that  direction ;  and  in  the  second  place, 
I  think  that  State  pride  as  well  as  the  love  of 


46  UNDKR   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

birthplace  is  so  deeply  implanted  in  every  true 
breast  that  no  transplanting  to  an  alien  soil  or 
atmosphere,  however  favoring  the  conditions,  can 
ever  uproot  that  virgin  affection  for  them  which 
clusters  so  closely  about  the  human  heart.  A 
person  often,  and  rightly,  too,  forms  a  very 
strong  and  deep  attachment  for  the  State  of  his 
adoption;  but  it  is  a  sort  of  stepmother  affec- 
tion, so  to  speak,  and  can  never  supersede,  in 
my  opinion,  that  genuine  mother  love  that  is 
born  within  him — that  love  which  causes  his 
heart  to  swell  with  pride  and  his  pulse  to  thrill 
with  joy  whenever  her  praises  are  sounded;  and. 
when  abroad  and  asked  by  strangers  from 
whence  he  came,  he  feels  an  honest  pride  in 
acknowledging  the  place  of  his  birth^nd  in  pre- 
senting his  State  as  a  model  for  the  imitation  of 
others.  * ' 

' '  True,  very  true,  indeed, ' '  interposed  Mr. 
Glenwood  warmly.  "  While  you  were  talking, 
those  lines  of  the  satirist,  happily  illustrating 
one's  disloyalty  to  his  own  State  and  country, 
occurred  to  me.  I  read  them  when  a  school- 
boy, and  I  recollect  how  forcibly  they  struck  me 
then.  How  do  they  run?''  Mr.  Glenwood 
touched  his  fingers  meditatively  to  his  forehead, 
' '  Ah,  yes,  something  like  this : 

"  '  The  steady  ijatriots  of  the  world  alone, 

The  friends  of  every  country  but  their  own.' 

"  Now,  I  will  admit,"  he  continued,  '  'while 
I  love  California  and  think  she  is  a  grand  and 
magnificent  country,  yet  deep  down  in  my 
heart  I  believe  I  love  the  Old  North  State  bet- 
ter." 

"  Oh,  of  course  you  do,"  returned  Dr.  Leslie, 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  47 

with  a  beaming  smile;  "  and  as  a  North  Caro- 
Hnian  I  am  pleased  to  hear  you  say  so.  Now, 
my  experience  and  observation  have  been,"  he 
went  on,  "  that  as  association  expands  the  scope 
of  affection,  this  feeling  extends  to  the  social 
systems  around  us,  and  is  gradually  enlarged 
until  it  comprises  within  its  devotion  the  entire 
government  of  the  country  we  inhabit.  As  one 
of  my  distinguished  countrymen  has  truthfully 
said,  '  No  Government  has  ever  retained  the  alle- 
giance of  its  citizens  where  this  sentiment  has 
languished,  and  no  country  has  flourished  where 
it  was  not  taught  as  a  principle,  cherished  as  a 
passion,  and  made  subordinate  only  to  religion, 
in  the  ardor  with  which  it  glowed  in  the  bosom 
of  the  people. '  * ' 

' '  How  about  your  schools  and  State  debt  ?  ' ' 
Mr.  Glenwood  asked,  after  a  little  pause ;  ' '  and 
how  has  the  population  grown,  or  increased  from 
immigration  ?  * ' 

' '  Well,  since  the  rescue  of  the  State  from  the ' 
tempest  of  profligacy  that  swept  over  it  after  the 
war,  taxes  have  steadily  diminished,  and  the 
schools  have  increased  until  they  offer  education 
to  every  child  in  the  Commonwealth,  regardless 
of  color.  With  regard  to  debt,  there  is  less  State 
and  individual  debt  than  at  any  time  in  the  last 
century. 

"  The  State's  legitimate  debt  is  steadily  re- 
duced, her  treasury  has  a  large  surplus,  her  hu- 
mane institutions,  conducted  with  equal  care  and 
outlay  for  both  races,  are  monuments  of  credit; 
her  public  improvements  have  kept  pace  with 
the  growing  wants  of  her  people ;  her  authority 
reflects  the  pride  of  the  State  in  its  stainless  in- 
tegrity, and  thrift  and  content  are  the  common 


48  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

blessings  of  her  people.  As  to  immigration, 
North  Carolina  has  fewer  foreigners  and  a  more 
completely  homogeneous  population  than  any 
other  State  in  the  Union. 

"  In  fact,  she  is  now  singular  from  the  other 
reconstructed  States  in  having  attained,  solely 
by  the  efforts  of  her  own  people,  a  higher  degree 
of  general  prosperity  than  she  ever  before  at- 
tained in  her  history;  and  to-day,  has  a  more 
prosperous  and  thrifty  people  than  at  an}^  period 
of  the  past.  But  we  are  glad  to  have  good,  sub- 
stantial people  come  among  us,  and  we  cheer- 
fully extend  to  them  the  hand  of  fellowship. 
We  can  offer  them  many  splendid  inducements. ' ' 

Mr.  Glenwood  laughed  and  rubbed  his  hands 
together.  ''That's  right;  offer  your  induce- 
ments, and  they'll  come.  '  Change  *  is  the  word. 
It  seems  that  in  this  day  and  time  the  majority 
seem  to  believe  that  change  is  the  touchstone  to 
success.  Why  this  spirit  of  restlessness,  I  do  not 
know,  unless  it  is  that  people  like  to  go  out  into 
the  world,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  enjoy 
the  surprises  of  antipodal  existence.  They 
seem  eager  for  the  rigors  of  chance  and  change, 
and  sometimes  make  a  move,  I  suppose  for  the 
fun  of  the  thing.  In  this  era  of  large  things 
we  live  an  age  in  a  day.  Such  a  thing  as  well- 
ordered  leisure  and  permanency  of  residence  are 
practically  unknown,  except  in  very  rare  in- 
stances. 

"  It  is  a  mad  whirl,  but  it  is  the  century — the 
Nineteenth  Century — and  we  must  live  in  it 
and  master  it  if  we  are  to  move  on  at  all.  True, 
the  wear  and  tear  are  frightful,  but  it  seems  in- 
evitable," 

In  the  pause  that  followed,  Agnes  turned  and 


IX   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  49 

said  something  to  Ruth  in  a  low  tone,  but  Dr. 
Leshe  caught  the  sound  of  his  own  name,  and 
bowing  to  her  asked  laughingly : 

"  What  is  it.  Agnes'?" 

"Oh,  I  merely  remarked  to  Ruth."  she  said 
laughing,  ''that  I  verily  believe  that  you  con- 
sider it  your  particular  duty  to  make  }'Ourself 
as  agreeable  as  possible  to  a  North  Carolinian 
whenever  you  meet  one,  as  a  part  of  the  debt 
you  owe  the  State. 

There  was  a  general  laugh,  in  which  Dr.  Les- 
lie joined  and  seemed  to  enjoy  more  than  the 
others,  and  while  he  was  talking  to  Agnes,  Mrs. 
Glenwood,  fearing  that  the  conversation  would 
presently  drift  back  to  the  discussion  of  the 
same  old  topic,  or  possibly  into  a  lively  review 
of  labor  and  social  problems,  which  themselves, 
however  popular,  were  extremely  tiresome  to 
her,  now  tactfully  changed  the  conversation. 

Just  then  an  occasion  was  furnished  for  doing 
so.  It  was  very  close  and  warm,  but  she  had 
neglected  to  bring  her  fan  with  her  when  she 
came  down  from  her  room  after  dinner.  Mrs. 
Grayson  generously  offered  her  cousin  the  use 
of  her  own. 

"  Thanks;  but  don't  let  me  deprive  you, 
Helen;"  and  on  Mrs.  Grayson's  protesting  that 
she  did  not,  Mrs.  Glen  wood  turned  to  Agnes: 

"  Ah,  this  reminds  me,  my  dear,"  looking  at 
the  fan,  "  that  I  must  look  in  at  Denning's  be- 
fore we  leave  the  city  to-morrow  and  get  the 
fan  you  wanted  to  match  one  of  your  evening 
silks.  Don't  let  me  forget  it.  Do  you  know 
which  shade  it  is  ?  " 

Agnes  looked  down,  and  for  a  moment  vigor- 
ously tugged  at  something  in  her  belt. 


50  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  There  I^Just  as  near  the  shade  of  this  ex- 
quisite beauty  as  you  can  match  it,"  she  said 
airily,  holding  up  a  large,  half-blown  creamy 
rose,  tinted  with  the  bare  suggestion  of  pink; 
and  then  she  leaned  forward  and  made  a  motion 
of  fastening  it  on  the  bosom  of  her  cousin  Hel- 
en's dress. 

"  No,  no,  dear,"  quickly  objected  Mrs.  Gray- 
son, as  she  put  up  her  hand  to  arrest  x^gnes' 
purpose.  "  I  never  wear  flowers— that  is,  such 
a  showy  one  as  this.  Sometimes  I  wear  a  little 
bunch  of  pansies  or  daisies.  You  keep  it,  dear. 
There  is  no  ornament  half  so  pretty  for  young 
girls  as  flowers,  I  think." 

Agnes  took  the  rose  away  with  a  laugh  of 
affected  reluctance.  * '  Well,  yc  u  may  have  it 
any  way,  Cousin  Helen,"  she  persisted,  laying 
it  in  her  lap. 

' '  Thank  you, ' '  Mrs.  Grayson  said,  smiling. 
She  picked  up  the  rose  and  continued  to  Mrs. 
Glen  wood,  "  I  should  think  it  would  be  very 
difficult  to  match  these  delicately  blended  tints, 
and  I  hardly  think  you  will  be  able  to  do  it. 
However,  it  may  be — "she  broke  off  suddenly 
and  looked  up  inquiringly. 

The  gentlemen  had  risen  from  their  seats  and 
stood  before  them,  and  Dr.  Leslie  was  saying 
to  Mr.  Glenwood  in  answer  to  his  query; 

' '  Yes,  we  leave  for  the  South  quite  early  in 
the  morning." 

"  And  I  feel  strongly  tempted,  Cousin  Ralph, 
to  forego  the  pleasure  of  my  summer  outing  to 
Lennox  and  Newport,  and  go  South  with  you, ' ' 
Agnes  interposed  archly,  brilliantly  smiling. 
She  turned  to  Ruth.  ' '  It  will  be  so  hard  to  give 
you  up.  darling,"  in  recognition  of  their  early 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  51 

separation,  "and  I  can't  tell  you  how  much  I 
shall  miss  you/' 

The  girls  rose  involuntarily,  and  then  Mrs. 
Glenwood  and  Mrs.  Grayson,  the  former  adjust- 
ing her  glasses. 

Thereupon  Dr.  Leslie  and  Mrs.  Grayson  put 
in  a  hospitable  entreat}''  for  Agnes  to  accompany 
them  South,  at  the  same  time  including  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Glenwood,  and  politely  urging  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  invitation.  After  declining  with 
regret  and  thanks,  Mr.  Glenwood  said : 

"  In  all  probability  we  shall  not  return  home 
before  September;  but  before  we  do,  I  hope  we 
shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeiag  you  at  your 
home  in  North  Carolina.  Nothing  would  give 
me  more  pleasure  than  to  visit  my  old  home 
place  and  former  friends — or  those  who  are  still 
living  in  your  city." 

"  Not  more  pleased  than  we  shall  be  to  have 
you  come,  and  your  friends  to  see  you,  I  assure 
you,"  Mrs.  Grayson  said  as  she  shook  him 
warmly  by  the  hand.  *'  I  say  good-bye,  now," 
she  added,  "  for  fear  I  shall  not  see  you  again 
before  we  leave.  We  make  an  early  start,  and 
Ruth — "  Mrs.  Grayson  paused  as  she  turned  to 
her — it  was  the  first  time  she  had  addressed  her 
by  her  Christian  name,  "  you,  too,  would  better 
bid  Mr.  Glenwood  good-bye  now." 

When  the  adieux  were  over,  and  the  gentle- 
men had  left  the  room,  Mrs.  Glenwood  and  Mrs. 
Grayson  resumed  their  seats  and  began  discuss- 
ing various  topics  of  interest — especially  to  Mrs. 
Glenwood. 

Agnes  and  Ruth  moved  to  the  window,  Agnes 
doing  most  of  the  talking  and  Ruth  listening, 
while  her  dreamy  eyes  followed  the  hundreds  of 


52  UNDER   GOLDEW   SKIES;    OR, 

pedestrians  troopiDg  up  and  down  Broadway, 
though  her  thoughts  were  not  upon  them. 
More  than  once  she  turned  and  glanced  at  Mrs. 
Glenwood  and  Mrs.  Grayson,  as  though  men- 
tally comparing  the  tw^o  women. 

Mrs.  Glenwood,  consummate  woman  of  the 
world  as  she  was,  and  inordinately  sensible  of 
hef  own  importance,  was  so  engrossed  with  her 
social  duties  and  the  frivolous  pleasures  of  the 
world,  as  to  leave  her  small  leisure'  for  little  else 
besides  her  particular  sphere.  Cold  by  nature, 
self-contained  and  ambitious,  there  was  a  chilli- 
ness about  her  that  made  her  repellant  rather 
than  attractive;  and  even  her  well-trained,  low, 
modulated  voice  and  laugh  had  an  unpleasant, 
metallic  ring,  and  when  she  was  irritated,  cut 
like  a  stiletto  and  jarred  painfully  upon  the 
nerves.  There  was  never  any  heart-warmth  in 
it.  Hating  poverty  and  its  concomitant  sacri- 
fices, she  had  married  rich — enormously  rich — 
and  now  unstintedh'  indulged  herself  in  all  the 
pleasures  and  luxuries  that  her  husband's  money 
could  purchase.  Her  ambition  Vv'as  not  to  equal, 
but  to  excel  others  in  making  a  display  with  her 
riches.  Still,  cold  and  proud  and  haughty  as 
she  was,  there  was  one  human  being  that  Mrs. 
Glenwood  devotedly  loved- — one  object  that  ten- 
dered her  heart,  and  kept  up  a  fountain  of  warmth 
in  her  frigid  nature — and  that  object  was  Agnes, 
her  only  child. 

M^'S.  Grayson  wondered  that  the  girl's  head 
was  not  turned ;  wondered  that  she,  too.  was  not 
selfish,  disdainful,  cold  and  proud.  But  as  yet 
she  was  unspoiled  by  the  frivolities  of  the  world, 
and  was  sincere,  kind  and  true. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  53 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  old  Moravian  town,  Salem,  in  North  Car- 
olina, early  became  famous  not  only  as  a  center 
of  missionary  work,  but  as  a  seat  of  learning; 
and  the  early  history,  traditions  and  heroical 
memories  of  her  brave  and  peace  loving  people 
who  wrought  and  suif  ered  amidst  the  struggles, 
privations  and  hardships  which  encompassed 
them,  and  their  brave  endurance,  are  often  re- 
counted, and  are  invested  with  a  peculiar  interest 
and  pathos  that  the  recital  of  the  story  never 
diminishes  nor  lessens  its  fascinating  charm. 

In  those  days  of  early  history  she  was  "  a 
world  in  epitome,  a  civilization  in  little,  an  up- 
ward development  of  a  single  co-operative 
family,"  who  had  wrested  from  almost  barbaric 
wastes  the  best  treasures  which  make  for  peace, 
plenty  and  prosperity. 

But,  in  later  years,  when  geographically  linked 
to  a  younger  city,  and  the  very  names  became 
hyphened  together,  she  bravely  clung  to  her  in- 
dividual existence — when  it  seemed  that  an 
effort  was  being  made  to  cover  her  identity — 
and  disputed  inch  by  inch  the  levelling  of  her  an- 
cient landmarks ;  and  while  no  longer,  perhaps, 
the  unique  town  described  by  the  observers  of 
the  past,  still  under  her  modernized  and  bright- 
ened appearance  she  preserves  certain  of  her  first 
cnaracteristics  which  time  nor  chance  has  yet 
effaced ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  inevitable 
changes  and  revolutions  in  manners  and  customs 
which  from  time  to  time  have  taken  place,  her 
admirers  cling  to  the  hope,  even  as  the  gradual 
evolution   goes  on,   that  the  old  historic  town 


54  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

may  ever  retain  her  personality,  never  break 
with  the  traditions  of  her  past,  and  always  pre- 
serve a  remnant,  at  least,  of  the  splendors  once 
all  her  own. 

Rejuvenated  and  supported  on  one  side  by  her 
active,  bustling,  hard-working  sister  city.  Win- 
ston, where  handsome  fortunes  are  made  by  her 
energetic  citizens,  and  which  frequently  frater- 
nizes with  her  in  the  most  amicable  manner  with- 
out taking  from  her  her  individuality,  she  is  just 
as  cultured,  modest,  frank  and  hospitable  lo-day 
as  she  has  ever  been  in  the  past,  knowing  how  to 
attract  to  herself  the  best  elements  of  her  neigh- 
bors, and  give  to  them  her  own  in  exchange; 
and  though  her  number  of  inhabitants  be  not  so 
large,  still  she  is  great  by  reason  of  her  inteUec- 
tual  force  and  moral  value. 

It  was  here  in  this  quaint  old  town  that  Miss 
Rachel  Leslie  claimed  the  distinction  of  resi- 
dence, preferring  the  sweet  seclusion  and  con- 
servatism of  the  old  Moravian  town  to  the  bust- 
ling activity  and  cosmopolitanism  of  the  "new 
town,"  so  called.  Miss  RachePs  home  was  just 
the  spot  for  a  person  of  her  modest  tastes  and 
retiring  nature. 

The  warm  day  was  near  its  close  by  the  time 
Miss  Rachel  was  through  with  the  momentous 
task  of  overhauling  and  setting  the  Leslie  house 
in  order,  and  looking  after  the  various  details  of 
domestic  duties  which  Mrs.  Grayson  had  asked 
her  to  attend  to  on  the  day  she  left  tor  New 
York. 

As  she  stood  locking  the  front  door,  Nellie 
and  Bruce  romped  noisily  up  and  down  the  long- 
veranda,  enjoying  themselves  immensely,  and 
pa,ying  no  heed  whatever  to  Miss  Rachel's  oft 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  55 

repeated  command  to  keep  quiet  or  go  out  ou 
the  lawn  to  play. 

"■  Well,  I'm  through  at  last,  and  I  beheve  the 
sun  will  be  down  before  I  get  home,"  said  Miss 
Rachel  to  herself,  wrenching  the  key  out  of  the 
lock  and  dropping  it  into  the  black  silk  hand- 
bag which  she  carried  upon  her  arm. 

They  took  their  way  through  the  various 
streets,  turning  first  into  one  and  then  another ; 
the  evening  breeze  rose,  stirred  the  leaves,  and 
bathed  the  city  in  a  delicious  freshness.  Along 
the  horizon  where  the  sun  was  westering,  slo5\'- 
moving  clouds  in  purple  and  palest  green  blended 
together,  then  crinkled  into  a  broad  banner 
which  lay  for  a  moment  outspread  against  a 
luminous  background  of  crimson  and  gold. 

As  they  passed  along  the  Court  House  Square, 
a  row  of  jolly,  careless  negro  boys,  picturesque 
in  their  raggedness,  was  perched  upon  the  ter- 
raced parapet,  whistling  a  merry  factory  song- 
while  they  beat  time  to  the  tune  with  their 
bare  brown  legs  dangling  against  the  high  brick 
wall.  Nellie  lingered  a  moment  to  listen, 
laughed  good-naturedly  at  the  queer  antics  of 
the  little  darkies,  then  ran  forward  to  overtake 
her  aunt,  who  had  stopped  abruptly  in  front  of 
the  First  National  Bank,  and  stood  peering  from 
right  to  left.  Then  she  turned  and  rapidly  re- 
traced her  steps  a  quarter  of  a  square,  waving 
little  Nellie  back  with  a  motion  of  her  hand  when 
she  made  a  motion  to  follow  her.  Nellie  was  not 
over-burdened  with  shyness,  so  she  stood  on  the 
pavement  and  watched  the  people  as  they  drove 
past  or  walked  hurriedly  by,  peeped  delightedly 
into  the  handsome  show-window  at  the  big  bis- 
que dolls  spinning  franticalh''  around  on  some 


56  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

ingenious  contrivance  arranged  to  display  the 
fancy  notions  which  the  store  contained;  and  at 
length  glanced  up  admiringly  at  the  beautiful  and 
richly  carven  front  of  the  building.  She  was 
so  absorbed  in  her  curious  inspection  that  she 
failed  to  hear  Miss  Eachel's  soft  tread,  and  not 
until  she  had  touched  her  on  the  shoulder  and 
called  her  by  name  was  she  aware  of  her  aunt's 
presence.  Nellie  gave  one  more  imploring  look 
at  the  whirling  dolls  as  she  turned  and  folloM-ed 
her  aunt,  who  now  quickened  her  pace  till  they 
reached  Main  Street,  a  thoroughfare  which  was 
ahve  with  the  turmoil  and  life  of  the  busy,  ur- 
gent city. 

Here,  Miss  Rachel  glanced  toward  the  west. 
The  sunset  was  slowly  paling,  and  the  length- 
ened shadows  of  the  houses  on  the  pavement 
were  fast  disappearing.  Although  it  was  not 
yet  dark,  here  and  there  an  electric  jet  flared  up 
in  some  of  the  pretty  stores  which  lined  the 
streets. 

As  they  walked  down  the  broad  sidewalk, 
bordered  on  one  side  by  tail  elms,  Nellie  con- 
tinued to  ask  all  sorts  of  questions  about  the 
people  they  met  and  some  of  the  old  buildings 
they  passed — for  they  had  now  crossed  First 
Street  and  were  in  the  old  Moravian  town — and 
listened  attentively  while  Miss  Rachel  answered 
her  inquiries. 

Even  a  stranger  readily  noted  the  change  im- 
mediately from  one  town  to  the  other,  for  the 
variety  and  architecture  of  the  residences  and 
other  buildings  were  different  here,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  something,  too,  in  the  quiet  and 
serenity  of  the  very  atmosphere  different  from 
the  noisy  city  they  had  left  behind. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  57 

Occasionally  Miss  Rachel  would  let  her  eyes 
wander  up  and  down  the  fronts  of  the  houses 
they  passed,  for  Nellie's  artless  questioning  had 
awakened  a  long  train  of  thought  with  many 
strong  yearnings,  and  carried  her  dimly  hack 
with  the  things  and  the  people  of  the  past. 
'  "■  How  curiously  our  lives  are  linked  together, ' ' 
she  presently  said,  half  aloud. 

"  What  did  you  say.  Aunt  Rachel?"  NeUie 
asked,  looking  up  at  her  with  curious  eyes. 

' '  Oh,  nothing,  child ;  T  was  only  thinking, ' ' 
Miss  Rachel  answered.  But  there  was  an  uncon- 
scious grievous  pain  expressed  in  her  voice,  and 
she  smiled  faintly. 

On  every  side  the  light,  graceful  draperies  of 
vines  which  were  so  general,  and  the  numerous 
flower  boxes,  little  balconies  and  windows  filled 
with  pots  and  stone  vases  of  flowering  plants, 
made  the  most  commonplace  house  look  charm- 
ing. The  tall  white  marguerites,  pink  and 
white  geraniums,  masses  of  blue- eyed  lobelias, 
dvv'^arf  nasturtiums,  and  other  well-known  flow- 
ers, filled  and  overran  their  receptacles,  while 
the  maderia  amongst  gleaming  leaves  showed  a 
constant  cascade  of  bloom,  and  managed  to 
keep  in  a  perpetually  decorative  condition  the 
soft  green  fringes  of  creepers  swaying  gently  in 
the  breeze  and  adding  fresh  beauty  to  the  blos- 
soms. It  seemed  that  all  the  available  space  for 
flowers  had  been  utilized,  with  the  result  that  it 
gave  to  the  city  a  cool  and  sylvan  appearance, 
and  made  a  beautiful  picture  of  ease  and  com- 
fort. 

Presently  Nellie  and  Bruce  darted  on  in  front, 
turning  here  and  there,  showing  perfect  famili- 


58  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

arity  with  their  surroundings,  and  NeUie's  face 
was  radiant  with  excitement. 

When  she  had  reached  the  entrance  to  a  nar- 
row street  off  from  the  main  thoroughfare,  she 
stood  waiting  for  her  aunt. 

Her  hat  was  pushed  back  from  her  flushed 
face,  and  a  tress  of  her  golden  hair  had  escaped 
from  the  ribbon  which  confined  it,  and  curled 
caressingly  round  her  white  throat.  Just  before 
her  aunt  reached  her,  she  turned  and  suddenly 
called  out  a  gay  good-bye  to  her  and  then  ran  has- 
tily after  Bruce  towards  the  house. 

The  old-fashioned  residence  was  a  wooden 
structure  and  stood  on  a  little  side  street,  a  short 
distance  back  from  the  Main  Street  which  ran 
straight  as  an  arrow-line  through  the  two  towns, 
and  was  traversed  its  full  length  by  the  electric 
railway. 

The  house  was  a  pretty  picture  with  its  lo\r 
gabled  roof,  up  and  over  which  the  roses  clam- 
bered, flaunting  their  crimson  banners  from  the 
very  chimney -tops,  and  its  small  shuttered  win- 
dows with  their  snowy  draperies.  A  small  gabled 
porch  jutted  out  over  the  front  door,  and  around 
the  latticed  pillars  ivy  and  wisteria  twined  the  n- 
selves  lovingly  together  and  gently  crept  up  the 
gray  sides  of  the  old  house.  The  clean-swept, 
graveled  walk  leading  to  the  gate  was  thickly 
fringed  with  purple  sweet-scented  violets,  and 
over  the  picket  fence  enclosing  the  yard,  near 
the  little  front  gate,  an  English  honeysuckle 
flung  its  wealth  of  foliage  and  fragrance, 
amongst  which  the  busy  bees  buzzed  drowsily. 
The  mock  orange  and  spirea  bushes  disposed 
about  the  yard,  and  which  had  whitened  in  their 
springtide  flowerage,  had  loosened  their  pearly 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  5^ 

petals  and  the  frolicsome  winds  had  sent 
them  careering  far  and  wide.  On  the  left  of 
the  house  stood  a  tall  elm — paralytic  on  one 
side — which  threw  a  wide  circumference  of 
shade,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  greensward  sun- 
bathed on  a  sunny  day.  In  the  rear  was  the 
vegetable  and  flower  garden,  which  was  Miss 
EachePs  special  delight.  It  was  a  perfect  con- 
servatory of  fruits  and  vegetables  for  service, 
and  flowers  for  sacrifice.  Roses,  priiaroses  and 
violets  were  her  favorites,  and  there  were  others, 
old-fashioned  garden  flowers  which  she  cher- 
ished like  old  friends;  flowers  around  which 
clung  delightful  memories  and  rich  with  the 
associations  of  by-gone  days. 

When  Miss  Rachel  reached  the  house  she  found 
Nellie  sitting  on  the  door-step,  her  head  thrown 
back  against  one  of  the  vine -wreathed  pillars, 
looking  very  warm  and  tired,  and  fanning  herself 
with  her  large  straw  hat.  Hearing  her  aunt's 
slow,  soft  step,  she  looked  up  wearily. 

"  Oh.  Aunt  Rachel,  I'm  too  tired  for  anything, 
and  I  believe  I  was  almost  asleep,"'  said  Nellie, 
yawning,  and  struggling  to  her  feet.  She  spoke 
lightly,  but  her  aunt  looked  at  her  attentively, 
without  appearing  to  study  her  face.  She  was 
very  pale  now  and  there  was  a  peculiar  tone  in 
her  voice,  which  betrayed  great  weariness. 

"  You've  been  runinng  too  much,  and  the 
warm  weather  is  very  trying.  Come  in,  and  as 
soon  as  you  get  rested,  Mary  will  give  you  some 
supper,  and  then  you  must  go  straight  to  bed." 

Miss  Rachel  led  her  into  her  pretty,  homelike 
room,  that  had  a  peculiarly  restful  feeling,  and 
seated  hej'  in  a  great,  easy  chair,  beside  an  open 
window. 


60  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


a 


Now,  you  sit  here,  child,  and  Til  go  and  tell 
Mary  to  bring  your  supper  right  away.  No  need 
for  your  going  to  the  dining-room  if  you  are  so 
tired." 

As  Miss  Rachel  reached  the  door  she  stopped 
and  looked  back,  and  something  in  the  attitude 
of  the  child — perhaps  it  was  her  perfect  helpless- 
ness— strangely  touched  her.  She  hesitated  a 
moment,  with  a  look  of  perplexity  on  her  face, 
and  stood  silently  regarding  her,  then  turned  and 
passed  noiselessly  out  of  the  room.  Left  alone 
in  the  soft,  dreamy  twilight,  from  sheer  weari- 
ness, Nellie  soon  fell  fast  asleep. 

' '  Poor  little  thing ! '  *  said  Miss  Rachel,  a  few 
minutes  later,  when  she  returned  with  Mary, 
bearing  Nellie's  supper  on  a  small  tin  tray.  "  It 
has  been  a  long  day  for  her,  and  she  seems  thor- 
oughly worn-out.  I'm  sorry  now  I  didn't  let 
her  ride  down  on  the  car;  the  walk  was  too 
much  for  her.  Take  the  tray  back  to  the  dining- 
room,  Mary ;  then  come  and  help  me  get  her  to 
bed." 

The  evening  was  warm,  deliciously  fragrant 
with  night -scented  stocks,  and  through  the  open 
window  the  rays  of  a  young  moon,  cradled  in  the 
tree-tops,  glanced  in  a  sidelong,  shy  sort  of  way 
over  the  quiet  little  figure  and  made  her  look 
like  a  vision — a  part  of  the  brightness,  as  she 
calmly  slept  in  the  mystical  moonlight. 

The  clock  in  the  neighboring  church  tower 
struck  three-quarters  past  eight.  Miss  Rachel 
felt  a  curious  irritation  at  the  slow  solemn  strokes 
of  the  old  clock,  which  it  had  never  made  her 
feel  before ;  and  while  the  expression  of  annoy- 
ance was  still  upon  her  face,  Mary  came  back 
into  the  room  and  began  to  prepare  Nellie  for 
bed. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  61 

Miss  Rachel  and  Mary  talked  together  iu  low, 
repressed  voices,  so  as  not  to  awaken  her,  but 
Nellie  presently  roused  ap  and  gazed  from  one 
to  the  other  with  a  bewildered,  perplexed  look, 
then  closed  her  eyes  and  made  a  feeble  effort  to 
shake  off  Mary's  hand. 

"Nellie,  Nelhe, "  her  aunt  called,  in  a  kind 
tone,  gently  pulling  her  by  the  shoulder.  "Let 
Mary  undress  you,  child,  and  put  you  to  bed." 
Then,  with  tender  solicitude,  Miss  Rachel  began 
to  assist  Mary  disrobe  the  little  sleeper. 

"Yes — Mamma — I  kiss  you — Mamma,  I  say 
my  prayers — I  am  so" — she  broke  off  the  inco- 
herent speech,  and  like  one  in  a  dream,  she  got 
suddenly  upon  her  feet  and  knelt  down,  leaning 
against  Miss  Rachel's  knee,  and  repeated  to  the 
end  her  little  evening  prayer—"  Now  I  lay  me 
down  to  sleep." 

After  she  had  whispered  the  "  Amen,"  she  still 
knelt,  while  her  breathing  came  soft  and  regu- 
lar, for  she  was  fast  asleep,  her  head  resting  in 
her  clasped  hands  upon  Miss  Rachel's  lap. 

Mary  stooped  and  raised  the  little  white-robed 
figure  very  tenderly  in  her  strong  arms,  and  put 
her  upon  the  small,  low  bed,  which  her  aunt 
had  prepared  for  her  beside  her  own. 

Being  of  an  eminently  practical  turn  of  mind 
herself.  Miss  Rachel  was  an  early  riser:  and  the 
next  morning  when  she  rose  she  tiptoed  about 
the  room,  dressing  as  noiselessly  as  possible,  so 
as  not  to  awaken  Nellie,  and  before  she  withdrew, 
she  closed  the  shutters  and  drew  the  curtains, 
darkening  the  room  to  a  sombre  twilight,  then 
stepped  softly  out  into  the  hall. 

But  just  as  she  had  closed  the  door  behind  her, 
Robbie,  her  canary,  caught  a  glimpse  of  her  in 


02  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

passing,  and  suddenly  burst  into  a  ripple  of  mel- 
ody, which  resounded  startiugly  loud  throughout 
the  quiet  house.  In  her  anxiety  for  Nellie's 
comfort,  she  quickly  crossed  to  where  the  cage 
hung,  amongst  the  dewy  vines  on  the  porch, 
tapped  lightly  on  the  wire  frame,  and  called  ca- 
ressingly up,  "Robbie!  Robbie!'"  hoping  to  check 
his  exultant  trill ;  but  the  bird  seemed  over-bur- 
dened with  song  this  morning,  and  responded  to 
Miss  Rachel's  gentle  reproof  with  a  fresh  out- 
])urst  of  rapturous  melody  even  louder  and  more 
joyous  than  before. 

"  Ah,  you  naughty  fellow!  "  scolded  Miss  Ra- 
chel, shaking  her  head  and  cooing  back  as  she 
left  him. 

At  that  moment  she  heard  Nellie's  voice,  and 
as  she  opened  the  door  Nellie  started  up  with  a 
glad  exclamation  of  delight,  sprang  out  of  bed, 
apparently  entirely  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
her  over  fatigue  the  day  before,  and  her  little 
face  was  aglow  with  happiness  and  animation. 

"  Oh,  Aunt  Rachel,  I  heard  the  fairies  singing 
in  the  rose- vines!  Do  please  help  me  dress  real 
quick,  so  I  can  get  out  to  see  them.  I've  always 
so  wanted  to  see  some  real  live  fairies,  and  I 
think  there  must  be  lots  of  them  out  there." 
Nellie  was  all  in  a  nervous  flutter. 

Her  aunt  laughed.  "  Why,  Nellie,  that  was 
Robbie  you  heard.  He  has  been  in  a  perfect  glee 
for  the  last  half  hour,  and  I've  been  scolding 
him,  and  trying  to  make  him  hush,  so  you  could 
sleep.  I  never  saw  him  in  such  a  merry  mood 
as  he  is  this  morning. ' ' 

' '  0 — h ! ' '  gasped  Nellie,  in  a  slow,  low-toned 
voice  of  disappointment,  and  the  next  moment 
she  was  very  grave.     Then  after  a  little  pause, 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  63 

she  added,  "  Well,  I  dreamt  about  the  fairies 
anyway ;  and  I  guess  I  heard  them,  too. ' ' 

' '  That  may  be, ' '  said  her  aunt,  carefully  brush- 
ing out  the  long  tangled  curls;  "  but  I  scarcely 
think  you'll  find  any  fairies  in  the  rose- vines, 
unless  butterflies  and  humming-birds  are  fairies. " 

"  Why,  they  are  not  fairies  ! ""  quickly  re- 
sponded Nellie,  in  a  tone  of  scornful  derision. 
"Don't  you  believe  in  fairies,  Aunt  Eachel?' 
She  presently  asked:  "  Were'nt  there  any  in 
your  young  days. ' ' 

"  Of  course  not,  and  there  are  none  now." 
Nellie's  face  fell;  but  she  soon  recovered  her 
happy  light-heartedness,  told  her  aunt  her  dream 
about  the  sure-enough  fairies  that  she  knew 
nothing  about ;  and  as  soon  as  she  had  finished 
dressing  ran  out  on  the  porch,  threw  cooing 
kisses  up  at  Robbie,  and  with  a  clap  of  her  lit- 
tle hands  and  a  sudden  "  Scat!  ''  sent  Tom,  her 
aunt's  big  gray  cat,  that  sat  washing  his  face 
with  his  cushioned  paws,  scampering  through 
the  vines;  raced  twice  around  the  house  with 
Bruce,  and  finally  slipped  away  from  him  into 
the  dining-room,  quite  insolvent  in  the  matter 
of  breath,  where  she  found  Mary,  the  bright- 
cheeked  maid  of  all- work,  dusting  the  furniture 
as  a  preliminary  to  setting  the  breakfast  table. 

Breakfast  over,  Nellie  was  on  the  lookout  for 
some  way  to  amuse  herself,  so  she  asked  her 
aunt  if  she  might  take  Bruce  and  go  on  the 
avenue — not  far  away — for  a  walk. 

Nellie  remembered  the  avenue  as  a  most  de- 
lightful rendezvous,  with  nurses  and  children  on 
pleasant  days,  and  wh  re  throngs  of  people,  both 
old  and  young,  resorted  generally  on  Sabbath 
afternoons  to  enjoy  the  beautiful  walk,  and  get 


64  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

a  breath  of  fresh  ah'  if  the  day  were  uncomfor- 
tably warm;  for  here  the  atmosphere  seemed 
always  clear  and  cool,  and  then  the  delicious 
sanctuary  quiet  of  the  place  was  soothing  and 
restful  even  to  the  most  tired  and  jaded  spirit. 

Indeed,  this  lovely  avenue  looks  like  a  stray 
bit  from  some  old  Cathedral  town,  with  its  long 
sweep  of  exquisite  verdure  and  undulating  white 
sanded  walk,  bordered  on  either  side  by  venerable 
cedars,  whose  plumy  foliage  seems  shadowy 
with  solemn  thoughts,  as  the  wind-rocked  boughs 
give  out  gentle  murmurs  and  low,  tremulous 
sighs. 

Here  Nellie  played  and  romped  for  hours  with 
the  neighbors'  children,  attended  by  her  faithful 
dog;  and  she  was  unfeignedly  happy,  while  she 
forgot  how  time  was  passing.  Just  as  she  reached 
home  the  dinner-bell  was  ringing,  and  she  found 
her  aunt  in  the  dining-room,  waiting  her  return. 

After  she  was  dressed  and  they  had  dined,  she 
went  into  the  garden,  picked  some  flowers  and 
made  a  wreath  ;  w^hen  this  amusement  ceased  to 
divert  her,  she  played  with  her  dolls ;  but  soon 
got  tired  of  them,  and  flung  them  aside,  and  at 
length  fell  asleep  on  the  linen-covered  lounge,  in 
Miss  Rachel's  neat  little  sitting-room.  When 
Mary  woke  her  at  half  past  four  o'clock,  to  go 
for  a  promised  walk,  she  bounced  up  quickly,  as 
bright  and  fresh  as  though  she  had  never  known 
a  tired  moment  in  her  life. 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad  you've  come  at  last!  "  she 
said,  delightedly.  '' I'm  all  ready — all  but  my 
hat;  just  let  me  get  it."  She  ran  out  in  the  hall 
for  it,  and  Mary,  having  her's  on  already,  fol- 
lowed her. 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon  and  the  air  was  per- 


TN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  65 

vaded  by  the  fragi-ance  of  the  flowers  in  the  yard 
and  garden.  They  sauntered  out,  straight  on  to 
Main  Street,  turning  down  this  thoroughfare,  on 
which  Miss  SaUie  Bergen  hved,  the  lady  Mary 
had  promised  her  they  would  visit. 

Nellie  walked  on  silently  for  awhile,  hstening 
to  the  gentle  rustle  and  murmur  of  the  leaves  of 
the  beautiful  old  elms  which  shaded  the  side- 
pavement,  enjoying  with  perfect  content  the  in- 
finite beauty  and  sweetness  of  nature,  which 
seemed  to  tone  her  spirit  in  unison  with  its  own, 
and  giving  herelf  up  to  the  enjoyment  of  it  un- 
reservedly. 

' '  Do  you  think  Miss  Sallie  will  let  us  see  her 
birds  ?  "  Nelhe  asked,  dubiously,  when  they  were 
quite  near  that  lady's  house,  which  they  could 
now  see  from  where  they  were. 

"  Oh,  certainly;  I  know  Miss  Salhe  very  well; 
and  she's  just  as  kind-hearted  as  she  can  be.  A 
good  many  people  go  to  see  her  birds,  because 
they  are  so  pretty  and  rare,  and  no  one  else  here 
has  any  like  them.'' 

"  Where  did  she  get  them  ?  " 

"■Oh,  from  almost  everywhere,"  Mary  an- 
swered, laconically,  trying  hard  to  remember 
some  of  the  places  that  Miss  feallie  had  told  her. 
"  But  she'll  tell  you  anything  you  want  to  know 
about  them, " '  she  added ;  "but  don't  ask  too  many 
questions." 

The  door  was  opened  by  a  pleasant  and  at- 
tractive-looking lady  of  medium  height,  with 
brownish,  silvered  hair,  and  blue-gray  eyes, 
given  to  glow  with  kindly  feeling  and  sympathy, 
which  made  them  at  once  very  winning  in  ex- 
pression. The  mouth  showed  decision  of  charac- 
ter and  an  energetic  temperament. 


e>^  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"We've  come  to  see  your  pretty  birds,  Miss 
Sallie,"  Nellie  began,  with  her  usual  impetu- 
osity, as  soon  as  she  and  Mary  had  greeted  her ; 
' '  and  I  do  hope  you  will  let  us, ' '  she  added,  as 
if  she  doubted  that  she  would. 

"  Oh,  certainly  you  may  see  them.  Come 
right  in  here,"'  Miss  SaUie  said,  kindly,  turning 
to  the  left  of  the  hall  and  entering  a  large  and 
pleasant  room  with  a  bay-window  filled  with 
trailing  vines  and  plants,  amongst  which  hung 
several  wire  cages.  "  Here  are  my  pets,  Nellie/' 
Miss  Sallie  said;  "  and  come  closer,  so  you  can 
see  them  all.'' 

"Oh,  they  are  just  beautiful,"  Nellie  said, 
clapping  her  hands,  ' '  and  I  never  saw  any  like 
them  before,  except  the  canaries  and  niocking- 
birds  and  parrots.  Yes,  I've  seen  paroquets  be- 
fore. And,  oh,  there's  a  pure  white  bird,  Mary! 
I  reckon  he  is  a  new-fashioned  snow-bird.*' 

"No,  that  is  the  white  Java  sparrow,"  Miss 
SaUie  said,  smihng ;  ^ '  and  this  is  a  gray  Java 
sparrow." 

She  pointed  out  the  different  birds  to  Nellie, 
and  told  her  their  names,  while  the  httle  fellows 
hopped  about  from  perch  to  perch  and  kept  up 
a  continual  chirping  and  twittering. 

"  This  is  a  chaffinch,"  she  said,  touching  the 
bird  on  the  wing,  ' '  and  this  the  purple  finch ; 
and  this  one  here  in  the  corner  is  the  indigo 
finch.  There  are  two  other  finches,  but  I  don't 
see  them.  Oh,  here  they  are— the  rainbow  finch 
and  orange-cheek  finch — pretty,  aren't  they?" 
looking  around  at  NeUie.  Then  she  tapped  the 
large  cage. 

' '  I  want  to  show  you  the  gray  linnet,  and  he 
belongs  to  the  finch  family  too.  This  is  he,  and 
the  bird  on  his  left  is  a  red-  head. 


?•> 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  67 

"  What  is  the  name  of  that  sweet  httle  bird 
with  a  cap  on  his  head  y  ' '  NelHe  asked  enthusi- 
astically, pointing  to  the  bird  indicated. 

"The  hooded  Nun,"  answered  Miss  Sallie, 
' '  and  this  one  is  the  Napoleon  weaver. ' ' 

"  I  should  think  they  are  lots  of  trouble,"  said 
Mary.  "  I  don't  think  I  could  have  the  patience 
to  work  with  tliem." 

' '  Yes,  they  r'^quire  a  good  deal  of  attention ; 
but  I  think  the  pleasure  they  give  me  and  my 
friends  amply  repays  me  for  the  trouble  I  have 
with  them."  Then  turning  to  Nellie,  "  I  think 
you've  enjoyed  seeing  my  birds,  haven't  you, 
Nellie?" 

"Oh,  yes,  Miss  Sallie;  I  certainly  have;  and 
I  thank  you  so  much  for  letting  me  see  them 
and  telling  me  their  names.  May  I  come  again 
real  soon  and  look  at  them — when  you  are  not 
busy,  you  know  ?  I  can  see  them  in  the  window 
outside,  but  not  half  so  well  as  I  can  in  here. ' ' 

' '  Yes,  certainly ;  come  as  often  as  you  like, 
and  your  aunt  will  allow  you.  I'm  glad  they 
have  given  you  so  much  pleasure."  Just  then 
the  town  clock  began  to  strike,  and  Mary  counted 
aloud  the  six  clear,  resonant  strokes. 

"  Dear  me,  six  o'clock!  "  she  said;  "  I  didn't 
know  it  was  so  late  as  that.  How  the  time 
slipped  away !  Nellie,  we  must  be  going.  Miss 
Rachel  told  me  to  get  back  by  half  past  six,  any- 
way. You  won't  have  time  to  hear  the  parrot 
talk  any  this  time.  You  can  come  again,  you 
know. "  Whereupon  poll  parrot,  who  had  a  cage 
all  to  herself,  seeing  them  making  ready  to  start, 
began,  ' '  Good-bye !  ' '  and  kept  up  her  parting 
salutation  until  they  were  out  of  the  room. 

Mary   had   supper   ready   shortly   after   they 


68  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

reached  home,  as  she  had  nothing  to  do  but 
make  the  tea ;  and  when  Nelhe  was  through  she 
had  a  race  around  the  yard  with  Bruce,  took  a 
turn  or  two  with  her  hoop,  and  then  went  out 
on  the  porch  where  Miss  Rachel  sat  with  Tom 
contentedly  purring  upon  her  lap,  while  she 
stroked  his  furry  coat  and  slowly  rocked  herself 
back  and  forth. 

Nellie  ran  back  into  the  house,  brought  out  a 
low  stool  upon  which  she  liked  to  sit,  and  placed 
it  near  her  aunt's,  brightening  at  the  remem 
brance  of  the  promise  made  to  her  that  morning 
to  tell  her  a  nice,  true  story  some  evening  after 
supper,  when  she  had  nothing  special  to  do. 
Nellie  thought  she  might  just  as  well  claim  the 
fulfillment  of  that  promise  now. 

The  sky  was  still  rosy  with  the  sunset  glow, 
and  in  the  corners  and  shaded  recesses  of  the 
yard,  where  the  dusky  shadows  were  deepening, 
an  occasional  firefly  starred  the  gloom.  In  a  lit- 
tle while  myriads  of  them  would  be  flashing  like 
tiny  sparks  in  the  soft  gloaming. 

The  sound  of  busy  life  had  ceased  in  the  quiet 
town,  the  lights  in  the  houses  began  to  twinkle, 
and  the  young  moon  hung  in  the  pale  gold  of 
heaven,  from  which  the  rose  tint  was  now  fading. 

"  Well,  Aunt  Rachel,  I'm  ready  for  that  pi-etty 
story  you  promised  to  tell  me, ' '  said  Nellie,  slid- 
ing her  stool  closer  to  her  aunt's  chair,  and  rais- 
ing her  innocent  questioning  eyes  to  hers.  An 
ecstacy  of  hope  lighted  up  her  fascinating  baby 
face. 

Miss  Rachel  smiled,  settled  herself  back  in  her 
chair,  musingly  continued  to  stroke  Tom's  head, 
and  said: 

"  The  story  I  promised  to  tell  you  is  a  true 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  Q9 

one,  and  the  event  happened  many  years  ago,  at 
the  first  Moravian  settlement  in  North  Carohna, 
which  is  about  five  or  six  miles  from  here ;  the 
old  village  is  now  almost  in  ruins.  The  little  col- 
ony of  Moravians  who  settled  it  were  a  brave, 
hardy  people,  and  were  from  Germany  and  Penn- 
sylvania; and  having  been  accustomed  to  the 
cold  winters  of  the  North,  they  were  dehghted 
with  the  mild  climate  of  the  South,  which  as  late 
as  December,  you  know,  is  often  as  balmy  as  the 
early  autumn.  The  village  they  built  they  called 
Bethabara,  and  as  the  country  around  them  was 
wild  and  unsettled  at  that  time,  they  surrounded 
the  little  town  with  a  stout  stockade,  to  prevent 
a  surprise  from  the  Indians  and  for  general  se- 
curity in  the  wilderness.  Every  improvement 
bore  the  marks  of  their  German  taste. 

"  Well,  Bethabara  was  known  far  and  near  by 
the  Indians  as  the  Dutch  fort,  where  there  were 
good  people  and  much  bread.  It  is  said  that  dur- 
ing 1757  and  '58  moi'e  than  five  hundred  Indians 
passed  through  the  settlement  at  various  times. 
Because  of  the  war  there  was  a  famine  in  all  the 
surrounding  country,  extending  into  the  districts 
of  Virginia,  and  the  people  came  to  Bethabara, 
more  than  a  hundred  miles,  to  buy  flour  and 
corn.  The  brethren  had  plenty  to  sell,  as  they 
had  cleared  and  planted  much  land  and  had  raised 
abundant  crops. 

' '  But  I  must  tell  you  what  was  inside  of  the 
fortifications.  There  were  grouped  the  queerest 
cottages,  with  steep  roofs,  sometimes  jutting  far 
over  the  door,  making  a  kind  of  porch,  and  all 
built  of  the  strongest  material.  The  doors  were 
cut  in  half  and  swung  on  separate  hinges,  hav- 
ing the  upper  half  open  for  ventilation,  while 


70  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

the  closed  lower  half  was  a  kind  of  protection 
from  sudden  intrusion. ' ' 

"  Why,  Aunt  Rachel,  there  are  houses  in  this 
town  that  have  doors  cut  in  two,"  eagerly  inter- 
rupted Nellie,  ''and  Julia  says  the  people  made 
them  that  way  to  keep  the  little  children  from 
getting  out  and  running  away. ' ' 

Her  aunt  smiled.  ' '  Yes,  there  are  a  few  very 
old  houses  here  with  doors  cut  in  half;  but  Julia 
is  mistaken  about  its  having  been  done  to  im- 
prison the  children.  But  we'll  go  on  with  our 
story,"  said  Miss  Rachel,  gently  pushing  Tom 
from  her  lap  to  the  floor.  ' '  Outside  the  fort 
were  tiie  farms,  and  all  the  owners  lived  in  the 
village.  One  bright,  pleasant  day  in  December, 
just  before  the  Christmas  holidays,  a  group  of 
happy  children  were  playing  on  the  outside  of 
the  palisades,  while  their  mothers  were  busily 
engaged  in  spinning  and  weaving,  and  others 
were  gossiping  with  their  neighbors  as  they 
leaned  over  the  half-opened  doors.  After  awhile 
the  children  got  tired  of  their  play,  and  one  of 
them  suggested  that  they  get  permission  to  go 
to  the  hillside  to  gather  ferns  and  evergreens, 
with  which  to  decorate  the  houses  and  church 
for  the  Christmas  holidays.  Everyone  eagerly 
agreed  to  this  proposition,  so  they  rushed  into 
the  village,  and,  having  obtained  the  consent  of 
their  parents,  were  soon  racing  across  the  mead- 
ows to  the  beautiful  moss-clad  hills  in  the  dis- 
tance. The  men  were  at  work  in  the  fields,  their 
guns  near  by,  for  in  the  forest  beyond  lay  the 
war  path  of  the  Cherokee  Indians,  along  which 
they  passed  to  attack  the  Indians  in  Virginia. 

' '  The  day  was  very  beautiful ;  the  birds  were 
singing  in  the  trees  and  hedgerows,  and  coveys 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  71 

of  partridges  whirred  up  in  their  flight  from 
amongst  the  stubble.  The  older  boys  scampered 
up  the  hills  and  gathered  evergreens,  for  every 
cottage  had  its  Christmas  tree,  and  the  church 
was  always  decorated  for  the  season.  The  girls 
gathered  ferns,  mosses  and  berries,  while  they 
sang  gay  songs. 

"  Toward  evening  the  boys  came  from  the 
hills  loaded  with  cedar  boughs,  others  had  laurels 
gathered  from  distant  hills,  which  were  heaped 
upon  rude  sheds,  and  joining  the  girls,  they  all 
started  for  home,  quite  tired  out  but  very  happy, 
and  singing  as  merrily  as  larks.  I  said  all  started 
for  home.  No,  there  was  one  left  behind,  but 
the  merry  party,  all  unconscious  of  their  loss, 
hurried  homeward.  The  one  left  behind  was  a 
sweet  little  girl,  who  was  the  pride  of  the  village 
and  the  pet  of  her  household.  She  was  gay 
and  full  of  life,  and  had  wandered  alone  farther 
round  the  hill,  attracted  by  stray  creepers  of 
trailing  evergreen  pine  and  the  lovely  ferns 
which  seemed  to  grow  larger  and  greener  as  she 
crept  along  the  slope. 

"  She  wandered  on  further  and  further  away 
from  her  companions,  until  the  deepening  shad- 
ows caused  her  to  turn  and  try  to  retrace  her 
steps  and  join  her  little  friends;  but  she  soon 
found  that  they  were  out  of  hearing,  and  all  was 
silent  in  the  dark,  damp  wood.  She  was  a  long- 
way  from  the  path,  still  she  wauilered  on  in  the 
direction  of  home,  as  she  thought;  but  she  saw 
no  familiar  landmark,  and  just  as  she  was  about 
to  call,  she  felt  a  slight  touch  on  her  shoulder 
that  startled  her;  but  thinking  it  was  a  cedar 
twig,  she  did  not  cry  out.  Although  she  was 
restless  and  uneasy,  and  anxious  to  reach  home, 
she  did  not  feel  the  least  fear. 


72  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  She  went  on,  and  again  a  sharper  touch 
nearly  turned  her  round,  and,  as  before,  she 
thought  it  was  a  cedar  bough  that  had  been  the 
cause.  It  was  now  getting  quite  dark,  and  the 
undergrowth  was  almost  impassable,  but,  hoping 
soon  to  reach  the  meadow  and  see  the  hght  of 
the  town,  she  hurried  on  as  best  she  could.  She 
knew  she  was  lost,  yet  she  felt  strangely  calm 
and  fearless.  Every  now  and  then  she  thought 
she  was  touched,  and  once  so  strongly  that  she 
sat  down  upon  a  log,  buried  her  face  in  her  hands 
and  prayed  silently.  Presently,  the  moon  rose 
and  the  gloomy  forest  was  quite  bright  with  the 
moonlight. 

"  All  at  once  a  strangely  human  cry  aroused 
her,  and  getting  upon  her  feet,  she  was  about  to 
answer,  when  a  sudden  touch  almost  sent  her 
prone  to  the  ground." 

''  Oh,  Aunt  Eachel,  what  was  it  ?  "  asked  Nel- 
lie, with  a  stifled  exclamation  of  dismay,  half 
rising  and  dragging  her  stool  closer  to  her  aunt. 
She  glanced  furtively  round  and  all  about  her, 
and  then  sat  down  with  a  blank  stare. 

' '  Pshaw !  Nellie,  if  you  are  going  to  get 
frightened  at  my  story,  I'll  not  tell  any  more  of 
it,"  said  Miss  Rachel,  softly  stroking  the  little 
nervous  hand,  which  had  instinctively  crept  into 
her  lap.  ' '  It  is  such  a  pretty  story,  I  think,  be- 
sides it  is  a  true  one,  and  ends  nicely,  just  like 
those  in  your  little  story  book.  Shall  I  go  on 
with  it?" 

' '  Oh,  yes ,  I  want  to  hear  it  all.  You  may  go 
on.  Aunt  Rachel,  I'm  not  afraid  now,"  Nelhe 
said  with  something  between  a  smile  and  a  long- 
drawn  sigh. 

"All  right,   then,   I'll  go  on,"  returned  her 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  73 

aant.  "  Well,  the  little  giii  qLiickly  rose  to  her 
feet,  and  a  lowering  cedar  limo  swayed  to  and 
fro — she  thought  again  that  she  had  been  struck 
by  it.  She  was  almost  ready  to  give  up  now, 
and  she  was  very  tired,  yet  that  strange  confi- 
dence kept  her  silent.  She  sat  down,  and  then 
she  thought  she  heard  the  patter  of  little  feet, 
and,  as  she  sprung  up  again,  she  was  rudely 
forced,  as  she  thought,  into  a  circular  cedar 
brake,  like  an  arbor  in  a  well-kept  park.  Then 
she  heard  the  cry  again,  but  the  mysterious  touch 
kept  her  quiet ;  and  at  last,  completely  overcome 
by  fatigue,  she  went  to  sleep.  Again  a  shrill  cry 
awoke  her;  and  as  she  was  about  to  ansv  er,  a 
bright  light  surrounded  her  and  a  gentle  touch 
silenced  her.  This  time  she  was  very  much 
startled,  but  the  moonlight  caused  her  to  think 
she  might  have  been  mistaken  both  in  the  halo 
and  touch.     She  again  fell  asleep. 

' '  In  the  village  all  was  confusion  and  distress 
when  the  loss  of  the  child  was  discovered.  Wild 
with  grief,  the  children  told  their  story.  They 
thought  the  httle  girl  had  returned  with  the 
boys  who  brought  the  laurels ;  among  them  was 
her  brother;  but  not  being  found,  the  men  of 
the  settlement  started  out,  headed  by  her  father, 
and  they  scattered  through  the  forest  with 
lighted  torches. 

"  The  father  and  three  other  men  went  to  the 
mill,  thinking  perhaps  she  had  gone  there,  as 
she  had  friends  living  near  by.  Not  finding  her 
there,  the  father,  almost  frantic  with  grief,  went 
to  the  hill  amongst  the  cedar  brakes.  The  men 
had  gone  but  a  little  way  before  a  fearful  cry 
rang  out  on  the  night  air.  They  knew  but  too 
well  what  it  meant,  and  the  poor  father  was  so 
6 


74  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

overcome  that  he  staggered  and  fell  across  a  fal- 
len log. 

"  But  he  soon  recovered  himself,  and  felt  a 
strange  comfort ;  hut  the  others  expected  to  find 
the  child  dead.  When  they  had  reached  an  open- 
ing in  the  forest,  they  saw^  a  treacherous  pan- 
ther stealing  along  the  edge  of  the  wood,  and 
presently  it  leaped  out  in  the  bright  moonlight. 
The  men  carried  their  rifles  and  fired,  and  the 
next  moment  the  animal  dropped  dead  in  his 
tracks. 

"  After  they  had  made  sure  that  the  panther 
was  dead,  led  by  a  guiding  hand,  they  came  to 
a  clump  of  cedars.  The  father  noticed  the  sin- 
gular shape,  then  he  pulled  the  boughs  apart, 
and  there  upon  the  ground  he  found  his  darling- 
child  asleep.  He  was  so  overcome  with  joy  that 
he  caught  the  startled  child  in  his  arms,  pressed 
her  to  his  heart,  carried  her  out  to  his  compan- 
ions, and  they  all  sank  on  their  knees  and  thanked 
God  for  His  merciful  care  of  the  little  one. 

"  The  faith  of  the  brethren  was  strong,  and 
the  first  thing  they  did  ^vas  to  remember  their 
Lord  and  Master,  who  had  wrought  this  miracle. 
The  little  girl  told  her  story  as  her  happy  father 
carried  her  home.  It  was  a  long  distance,  and 
before  they  were  quite  out  of  the  forest,  day  had 
begun  to  break.  Her  father  told  her  it  was  her 
Guardian  Angel  who  had  touched  and  kept  her 
quiet,  and  gave  her  the  strength  to  go  on  until 
the  cedar  grove  was  found,  and  she  was  allowed 
to  sleep  in  peace. 

"  The  good  brethren  broke  forth  in  songs  and 
thanksgivings  as  they  approached  the  hillside, 
and  the  villagers  knew  by  the  hymn-tune  that 
the  child  had  been  found  unharmed  and  well. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  75 


ii 


The  mother  was  out  in  the  meadow  first,  fol- 
lowed by  the  good  pastor  and  the  people ;  and 
there  in  the  open  meadow,  in  the  early  morning, 
the  mother  clasped  her  child  to  her  breast,  the 
whole  congregation  knelt,  while  the  pastor  re- 
turned thanks  to  God  for  His  goodness.  As  they 
returned  home  they  all  sang  a  hymn  of  praise. 

''  The  next  day  was  Christmas,  and  the  people 
gathered  in  the  church  and  enjoyed  a  heartfelt 
love-feast,  strengthened  in  their  faith  as  the  pas- 
tor repeated  the  story  of  the  lost  child,  as  told 
him  by  the  little  girl. 

'•  Every  one  was  deeply  affected,  and  when 
the  little  tapers  were  given  the  children,  as  is 
the  Moravian  custom,  all  was  joy  and  brightness. 
The  beautiful  Christmas  anthem  was  sung  with 
unusual  fervor,  and  it  really  seemed  as  if  the 
Christ-child  had  indeed  hovered  over  the  village. 

"  Now  my  story,  which  is  called  '  The  Guar- 
dian Angel, '  is  finished.  What  do  you  think  of 
it,  Nellie  ?  "  Miss  Rachel  asked,  looking  down  in 
the  little  earnest,  upturned  face,  bathed  in  the 
soft  radiance  of  the  lamplight  which  shone 
through  the  open  window.  The  moon  had  set 
by  this  time  and  millions  of  diamond  stars 
throbbed  from  horizon  to  zenith  in  the  high, 
clear  vault  above. 

Nellie  uttered  a  deep  sigh  when  her  aunt  had 
finished.  ' '  Oh,  I  like  it  very  much.  And  what- 
ever became  of  the  little  girl — I  mean  the  one 
that  was  lost  in  the  woods  and  found  ?  ' ' 

"  I  do  not  know.  I've  told  you  all  I  ever  heard 
of  her  history.  But  even  had  she  have  lived  to 
a  very  old  age,  she  would  have  been  dead  many 
years  ago." 

Nellie  shivered  as  with  cold,  and  just  then  the 
town  clock  began  to  strike. 


76  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

They  both  Hstened,  and  when  it  had  sounded, 
Miss  Rachel  rose  and  took  up  her  chair.  "Come, 
let  us  go  in.  The  air  seems  too  cool  tor  you  out 
here,  and,  besides,  it  is  time  you  were  in  bed." 

Nellie  picked  up  her  stool  aud  followed  her 
aunt  into  the  brightly  lighted  room.  Mary  was 
folding  the  pillow-shams,  w^hich  she  had  taken 
from  Miss  Rachel's  bed.  She  had  already  put 
Nellie's  little  bed  in  order,  ready  for  her  to  retire. 

Mary  was  so  intent  with  what  she  was  doing 
that  she  did  not  hear  Miss  Rachel  and  Nellie  en- 
ter, and  apparently  was  unconscious  of  their 
presence  in  the  room,  until  Nellie  crept  up  be- 
hind her  and  flung  her  arms  around  her  waist, 
holding  her  tightly. 

Mary  turned  round,  smiling,  and  Nellie  burst 
into  a  merry  peal  of  laughter. 

"  Did  I  frighteu  you,  Mary  ?"  she  asked. 

"  No,  you  little  witch;  I  knew  who  you  were. 
Now  I'm  going  to  put  you  to  bed  to  pay  you 
back."  Mary  took  hold  of  her,  and  began  to  un- 
dress her. 

"  All  right,  I'm  awfully  tired  and  sleepy,  any 
way,"  and  she  yawned  elaborately.  Half  an 
hour  later  Nellie  was  in  bed  and  sound  asleep, 
while  Miss  Rachel  sat  reading  by  the  shaded 
lamp-light. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  77 


CHAPTER  VL 

It  was  late  one  warm  afternoon,  the  fourth 
day  after  Dr.  LesKe's  and  Mrs.  Grayson's  de- 
parture for  New  York.  Miss  Rachel  had  just 
gone  out  to  the  milk-cart,  which  stopped  regu- 
larly before  her  gate  to  deliver  her  daily  supply 
of  milk ;  and  while  she  stood  waiting  for  the 
milkman  to  fill  her  pitcher,  she  heard  steps  be- 
hind her. 

''Mary,  is  that  you'?"  she  called.  The  girl 
advanced  and  stood  framed  in  the  doorway. 

"  Where  is  Nellie?'' 

"  I  think  she  is  in  the  garden.   I'll  go  and  see. ' ' 

"  No,  no;  wait,  Mary!  "  hastily  interrupted 
Miss  Rachel,  with  a  peremptory  wave  of  her 
hand. 

Mary  stopped  abruptly. 

"  I  received  a  telegram  from  Dr.  Leslie  half  an 
hour  ago,"  Miss  Rachel  began,  "  and  Mrs.  Gray- 
son and  the  little  girl  they've  adopted  will  be 
home  to-night.  Get  Nellie's  things  together  and 
put  them  in  her  valise,  and  as  soon  as  we've  had 
supper,  Nellie  and  I  will  go  up  on  the  car,  so  I 
can  open  and  light  the  house  and  have  every- 
thing in  readiness.'" 

Just  then  a  noise  of  joyous  laughing  and  scuf- 
fling came  from  the  porch,  and  Nellie  and  Bruce 
came  dashing  into  the  room. 

' '  Get  down,  Bruce !  get  down,  I  say !  See 
how  you've  torn  and  soiled  my  dress  with  your 
big,  dirty  paws!  "  shouted  Nellie,  playfully  beat- 
ing him  with  her  hat,  but  laying  on  the  strokes 
with  all  her  strength,  while  with  the  revival  of 
every  blow  lie  continued  his  frolic,    till   Mary 


78  Ur{DER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

came  to  her  rescue,  and  in  a  voice  of  authority 
ordered  him  out  of  the  room. 

NeUie  dropped,  panting,  into  a  seat.  "  I'm  all 
out  of  breath, ' '  she  said,  then  leaned  back  against 
the  chair  and  brushed  the  encroaching  hair  out 
of  her  eyes  with  the  back  of  her  hand,  drawing 
a  long,  quivering  breath  as  she  did  so. 

Her  aunt  laughed.  "  Of  course  you  have  some 
breath  left  or  vou  couldn't  talk.'' 

"Well,  I  didn't  mean  that,  exactly;  I  mean  I 
haven't  got  much.' 

"After  supper  Maiy  will  change  your  soiled 
dress  for  a  fresh  one,"  Miss  Rachel  said. 

"Why,  Aunt  Rachel?"  exclaimed  Nellie, 
roused  at  once.  ' '  What  am  I  going  to  put  on  a 
clean  dress  to-night  for  ?  Are  you  going  to  have 
company  ?  ' '  She  looked  with  curious  eagerness 
up  into  her  aunt's  face. 

"  Come  and  get  your  supper  first,  then  I'll  tell 
you  why."  Miss  Rachel  crossed  the  room,  re- 
sumed her  seat  and  began  to  pour  the  tea.  "  I 
have  some  good  news  for  you — that's  suffi- 
cient for  the  present. ' '  Miss  Rachel  smiled  with 
an  air  of  grim  satisfaction. 

' '  Do  please  tell  me  now.  Aunt  Rachel.  I  want 
to  know  so  much,"  pleaded  Nellie;  and  in  the 
swift  revulsion  of  feeling  she  was  alert  with  life 
and  animation. 

"No,  not  until  you  have  had  your  supper. " 
Her  aunt  smiled  again  and  shook  her  head. 

Nellie's  face  fell  instantly,  but  she  sat  down 
to  the  table  very  demurely,  unfolding  her  nap- 
kin and  carefully  spread  it  over  her  lap. 

After  she  had  hurriedly  dispatched  her  supper, 
she  looked  inquiringly  at  her  aunt. 

"  Are  you  through  already  ?  "  asked  Miss  Ra- 


I 

t 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  79 

chel,  glancing  at  her  plate.  "  Why,  you  haven't 
eaten  any  honey  and  sweet  buns ;  I  thought  you 
were  so  fond  of  them.'' 

"  I  am.  but  I  don't  care  about  them  just  now. " 
Nellie  folded  her  napkin  and  slipped  it  into  the 
ring,  and  when  Miss  Rachel  i)resently  rose  from 
the  table,  she  watched  her  with  intensifying  in- 
terest. 

"  I  had  a  telegram  from  your  uncle  this  after- 
noon, and  your  mother  will  be  home  to-night; 
so  we  are  to  get  ready  and  go  to  the  car  right 
away."  Miss  Rachel  was  busy  putting  away  the 
tea  things,  and  she  did  not  see  Nellie's  face. 

''Really,  Aunt  Rachel"?  Oh,  oh;  I  am  so 
glad,"  she  almost  screamed.  She  was  athrill 
with  delight,  and  for  a  moment  could  not  say 
another  thing — words  absolutely  failed  her.  She 
sprang  from  her  seat  and  flew  into  the  kitchen. 

"  Oh,  Mary,  mamma's  coming  home — is  com- 
ing this  very  night,  and  is  almost  here!  Do 
come  and  help  me  get  on  another  frock  right 
now.  Aunt  Rachel  savs  I  must,  and  we  are  to 
go  right  away.  Aren't  you  glad,  Mary,  that 
mamma's  coming  home  '?  " 

Nellie  walked  demurely  beside  Miss  Rachel, 
with  little  short,  tripping  steps,  till  they  had 
reached  Main  Street,  where  they  were  to  await 
the  coming  of  the  West  End  car,  then  she  flut- 
tered off  across  the  street  where  several  persons 
had  gathered,  evidently  for  the  same  purpose. 
Just  as  Miss  Rachel  and  Mary  joined  the  goup, 
she  heard  some  one  say,  "  Now,  we'll  have  to 
wait  fifteen  minutes  longer,  for  the  West  End 
car  has  just  gone  ap. " 

"  Well,  there's  nothing  to  do  but  be  patient 
and  wait,"  mused   Miss  Rachel,  half  aloud,  as 


80  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

she  resolutely  took  up  her  position,  with  that 
sombre  dignity  peculiar  to  her,  among  the  chat- 
tering group. 

The  whitest  of  summer  mists  delicately  veiled 
the  moon,  but  the  invading  rays,  which  pierced 
it  and  silvered  the  quaint  old  town,  made  a  pic- 
ture of  matchless  beauty  and  witchery.  x\long 
the  elm-embowered  street  pleasant  songs  and 
laughter  floated  out  on  the  delicious  air,  and 
melted  away  into  a  languid  stir  further  down, 
where  the  street  darkled  away  in  the  gloom. 
Presently,  a  gentle  wind  rose  and  swayed  the 
pendulous  boughs  of  the  tall  elms  hither  and 
thither,  printing  tremulous  shadows  on  the  dusty 
pavement  beneath. 

At  that  moment  Nellie  caught  sight  of  a  famil- 
iar figure  that  came  round  the  corner  and  joined 
the  waiting  group,  then  stepped  into  the  range 
of  the  moonhghted  street  and  looked  anxiously 
about,  as  if  seeking  some  one. 

' '  Oh ! ' '  cried  Nellie,  in  a  sudden  glow  of  pleas- 
ure and  enthusiasm,  "  There's  Dr.  Seaton!  ''  and 
before  her  aunt  could  repress  her,  she  ran  up  to 
him  and  caught  him  by  the  hand.  Dr.  Seaton 
started,  with  a  look  of  astonishment. 

"  Why,  heigh,  Nellie.  Where  did  you  come 
from  ?  ' ' 

His  tone  was  kind  and  gay. 

She  laughed  but  did  not  heed  his  question. 
"  Mamma's  coming  home  to-night.  Dr.  Seaton, 
and  going  to  bring  a  little  girl  with  her  named 
Euth,  and  I'll  have  some  one  to  play  with  me — 
Aunt  Rachel  and  I  are  going  home  to  meet 
them,  ai'd  we  are  waiting  for  the  car  now." 

Nellie  made  a  lovely  jMcture  as  she  stood  there, 
clearly  defined  in  the  moonlight,  her  embroidered 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  81 

white  dress  belted  with  a  broad  bkie  sash,  care- 
lessly knotted  in  the  back  and  the  long  golden 
curls  tied  back  with  a  ribbon  of  the  same  hue. 
Mary  had  fastened  a  bunch  of  large  purple  vio- 
lets on  the  bosom  of  her  dress  among  the  fleecy 
lace,  and  a  teasing  wind  blew  their  fragrance  ail 
about  her, 

"•Where  is  your  Aunt  Eachel?"  asked  Dr. 
Seaton,  still  holding  her  hand  and  looking  in  the 
direction  of  the  spectral  figures  a  little  apart 
from  them.  "  Have  you  been  a  real  good  girl 
since  mamma  left,  and  had  a  pleasant  visit  to 
your  aunt  ?  ' '  he  added,  as  they  moved  off  to  find 
her. 

She  looked  up  at  him  ruefully,  and  seemed 
not  to  like  his  implied  inference  about  her  good 
behavior. 

"  Of  course  I've  been  a  good  girl.  You  can 
ask  Aunt  Rachel  if  you  don't  believe  me." 

A  gleam  of  amusement  shone  in  his  eyes. 
'"  Certainly,  I  believe  you,  Nellie.  But  we  are 
not  going  to  fall  out  and  quarrel  like  naughty 
children,  are  we  ?  ' ' 

"  Quarrel!  '■  she  repeated,  with  her  old  eager 
persistence,  "  I  should  think  not."  She  flashed 
a  radiant  look  at  him,  and  her  little  heart  soft- 
ened more  and  more  toward  him.  ''  I  think  you 
are  ever  so  nice."  Dr.  Seaton  laughed  at  the 
admission. 

"  Oh,  here's  Aunt  Rachel  now,"  she  said. 

"  I'm  going  to  sit  by  you  in  the  car,"  mur- 
niured  Nellie,  clinging  fast  to  her  friend's  hand. 

''  Where  are  you  going  to  get  off  ?  " 

''Nellie!  Nellie!  "Miss  Rachel  called  to  her 
in  a  tone  of  reproach  and  correction,  "  don't  be 
troublesome.  * ' 


82  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"Oh,  that's  all  right,"  Dr.  Seaton  answered, 
following  her  gesture  with  a  smiling  glance. 
' '  Nellie  and  I  are  the  best  of  friends. ' ' 

They  had  reached  the  car,  and  he  extended  his 
hand  to  her  as  he  spoke  and  helped  her  up  the 
step,  then  lifted  Nellie  lightly  after  her;  and  as 
he  turned  to  take  the  valise  from  Mary,  Bruce 
sprang  past  him  onto  the  platform,  almost  up- 
setting a  small  boy  who  stood  in  his  way,  and 
naturally  followed  Nellie  into  the  car.  The  con- 
ductor frowned  savagely  and  muttered  something 
about  dogs  being  such  a  nuisance. 

Presently  the  car  stopped  before  the  brightly 
lighted  double-galleried  hotel  and  Dr.  Seaton 
got  directly  up.  "Here's  my  stopping  place," 
he  said.  "Good-bye,  Nellie,"  holding  out  his 
hand;  "I  hope  we  shall  meet  again  before  long." 
Then  hastily  bidding  Miss  Rachel  good-night,  he 
got  down  the  steps. 

Nellie  sprang  suddenly  upon  her  knees  again, 
and  threw  kisses  from  her  finger  tips  out  the 
window  to  him,  until  Miss  Rachel  pulled  hei 
almost  forcibly  down  into  the  seat.  She  found 
that  some  of  her  own  obstinacy  confronted  her 
occasionally  through  Nelhe,  but  in  a  milder  form. 
"  What  does  make  you  behave  so,  Nellie  ?  '  she 
said  testily,  putting  on  her  hat  and  making  in- 
effectual attempts  to  get  it  on  straight. 

"  Oh.  I  wasn't  doing  anything.  Aunt  Rachel, 
just  throwing  kisses  to  Dr.  Seaton,"  she  said 
plaintively;  "  I  think  he's  ever  so  nice,  and  real 
pretty,  too;  don't  you,  Aunt  Rachel?" 

The  moon  had  quite  gone  down  by  the  time 
they  reached  home,  but  the  myriads  of  twink- 
ling stars  shone  with  a  clear,  white  brilUancy 
and  sparkled  on  the  dewy  green  of  the  lawn 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  83 

and  the  foliage  of  the  well-kept  shrubbery,  every 
leaf  of  which  looked  as  if  it  were  set  in  a  rim  of 
silver. 

Miss  Eachel  and  Nellie  walked  around  to  the 
rear  of  the  house.  A  light  burned  in  the  servants' 
room,  but  they  came  upon  Aunt  Milly  and  Julia 
sitting  outside  the  doorway,  the  lamplight  cast- 
ing grotesque  shadows  of  them  on  the  white- 
sanded  space  before  the  door.  They  got  up  di- 
rectly they  saw  Miss  Rachel. 

"  There  ain't  nothin'  th'  matter,  is  there  Miss 
Eachel?"  Aimt  Milly  asked  quickly. 

Although  Miss  .Rachel  had  locked  the  doors 
and  taken  the  keys  with  her,  the  day  she  had 
given  the  house  a  thorough  overhauling,  she  left 
Aunt  Milly  in  charge  with  a  duplicate  key.  and 
gave  her  access  to  the  rooms  in  the  rear  which 
interiorly  communicated  with  those  in  front  of 
the  house  and  the  left  "wing,  by  heavy  sliding 
doors,  which  were  rarely  closed  as  they  were 
hung  with  silk  and  damask  portieres. 

When  Miss  Rachel  entereed  the  house — which 
she  did  by  the  back  entrance,  as  Aunt  Milly  had 
already  opened  the  door — she  made  her  way 
straight  to  the  front  hall,  lighted  the  chandelier 
both  here  and  in  the  sittiug-room,  then  took  a 
hand-lamp  and  made  desultory  excursions 
through  each  room  to  ascertain  that  everything 
was  just  as  she  had  left  it.  Quite  an  hour  later 
she  went  into  the  nursery.  Aunt  Milly  had  put 
Nellie  to  bed,  and  herself  had  fallen  asleep  in  a 
capacious  rocking-chair  beside  the  low  couch, 
with  her  hands  clasped  upon  her  lap,  her  head 
thrown  back,  and  from  her  wide-opened  mouth 
came  heavy  respiration  which  from  time  to  time 
deepened  into  a  hoarse  snore,  but  which  even  in 


84  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

her  sleep  she  made  visible  efforts  to  suppress. 
For  a  moment  Miss  Rachel  paused  and  stood  re- 
garding her  with  an  uncertain  air.  She  seemed 
to  be  resting  so  comfortably  that  she  dishked  to 
disturb  her,  but  let  her  sleep  on  till  she'd  had  her 
nap  out. 

''  No,  I  won't  awaken  her,"  she  mused,  in  the 
excess  of  her  indulgence ;  but  as  she  turned  to 
leave  the  room  her  hand  came  in  contact  with 
some  dainty  trifle  upon  the  table  beside  which 
she  was  standing,  and  before  she  could  arrest  it, 
it  fell  with  a  jingling  crash  to  the  floor  and  shiv- 
ered into  a  thousand  atoms. 

Aunt  Milly  sprang  suddenly  to  her  feet  with  a 
startled  look  in  her  wild-staring  eyes.  ' '  Lord- 
a- massy !  What  was  that  ?  ' '  She  rubbed  her  eyes 
and  glanced  about  her. 

Miss  Rachel  laughed.  *•  Aunt  Milly  I'm  sorry 
I  frightened  you.  It  was  nothing  but  a  little 
vase  I  knocked  off  the  table,  and  it  struck  against 
a  chair  and  broke  before  I  could  catch  it.  I'm 
afraid  it  was  the  one  Carl  gave  NeUie  for  a 
Christmas  present,  and  one  she  thought  so  much 
of,"  said  Miss  Rachel,  stooping  to  gather  up  the 
sparkhng  fragments.  She  lowered  the  lamp  and 
examined  them.  "  Yes,  it  is  the  identical  vase, 
and  I  nmst  get  her  another  one  like  it." 

"  You  jes'  let  'em  be,  Miss  Rachel,  an'  I'll  get 
the  duster  an'  pan  an'  brush  'em  up  rale  clean,'' 
said  Aunt  Milly.  She  left  the  room,  but  came 
back  in  a  few  minutes,  and  soon  had  the  wrecked 
vase  in  a  shining  heap  upon  her  pan ;  then  she 
rose  to  her  feet. 

"  There  is  no  need  of  your  sitting  up  till  Helen 
comes,  Aunt  Milly.  I'm  not  going  to  bed;  and 
if  I  should  want  anything,  Julia  will  be  in  this 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  85 

room  and  I  can  call  her.  Helen  generally  wishes 
a  cup  of  tea  after  she  has  been  traveling  at  night, 
and  it  will  be  no  trouble  to  prepare  it  for  her 
when  she  comes.  I  see  you  have  the  bed  ready 
for  the  child  that  Helen  is  to  bring  home  with 
her.  That's  all  right;  I  think  it  is  best  that  she 
and  Nellie  should  have  separate  beds— children 
rest  better,  too,  when  they  sleep  alone." 

While  Miss  Rachel  was  talking  Aunt  Milly  re- 
mained standing,  loatiDg  up  against  the  door- 
way, carefully  holding  the  pan  and  duster  in  her 
hand;  and  when  she  paused,  Aunt  Milly  gave 
one  of  her  customary  grunts,  and  slowly  left  the 
room. 

The  moment  Aunt  Milly  had  gone,  Miss  Rachel 
took  up  her  lamp  and  went  into  the  library  to 
get  something  to  read.  She  went  up  to  the 
shelves,  and  holding  the  light  high  above  her 
head  began  scanning  the  backs  of  the  books  up 
and  down  with  knitted  brows  and  a  mouth  primly 
set.  After  some  little  time  she  found  the  book 
she  wanted,  and  returned  with  it  to  the  sitting- 
room. 

As  the  light  from  the  chandelier  gleamed  with 
an  uncomfortable,  steely  glare,  she  turned  it 
down  quite  low  and  lit  one  of  the  tall  l)anquet 
lamps,  whose  radiance  she  subdued  with  its 
fluted  satin  shade,  and  then  sat  down  to  read. 
She  was  pleasantly  conscious  of  the  sweet  scent 
of  the  flowers  that  drifted  in  through  the  half- 
shuttered  window  a  ad  filled  the  peaceful  room ; 
but  despite  all  her  efforts  to  keep  awake,  a  drow- 
siness gradually  began  to  steal  over  her,  her 
hold  on  the  book  relaxed,  it  slipped  to  the  floor, 
and  soon  she  was  sleeping  soundly. 

How  long  she  slept  she  did  not  know,  but  she 


8()  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

was  aroused  by  the  sound  of  wheels,  and  before 
she  was  fully  awake  there  was  a  murmur  of 
voices  in  the  hall  without. 

She  rose  hastily,  picked  up  her  book  and  laid 
it  upon  the  table,  then  went  out  to  meet  her  sis- 
ter. When  she  had  greeted  her  she  glanced 
around  as  if  she  were  in  quest  of  some  one  else 
she  had  expected,  then  paused  and  suddenly 
looked  blank.  Mrs.  Grayson  had  quite  lost  sight 
of  the  fact  that  Miss  Rachel  was  still  ignorant 
with  regard  to  Ruth's  womanhood — that  she 
was  a  young  lady  instead  of  a  child,  as  they  had 
at  first  surmised ;  and  for  a  moment  both  she 
and  Ruth  were  puzzled  at  Miss  Rachel's  strange 
action.  Then  the  consciousness  of  the  true  situa- 
tion flashed  upon  her. 

' '  Do  excuse  me,  Rachel !  I  had  forgotten  that 
you  did  not  know,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson  hurri- 
edly. ''This  is  Ruth  Arnold — Ralph's  ward. 
You  know  w^e  all  expected  to  find  her  quite  a 
small  girl,  but  instead — '"  she  looked  at  Ruth, 
smiling  affectionately — ' '  she  is  a  most  charming 
young  lady.  Ruth,  this  is  my  sister,  Rachel; 
and  I  am  sure  she  must  love  you  when  she 
knows  you,  as  warmly  as  I  do  already. ' ' 

Miss  Rachel  seemed  so  taken  by  surprise  that 
she  fell  back  a  step  or  two,  and  during  the  brief 
interval  of  silence  the  three  exchanged  glances. 
And  then  she  did  something  that  took  Mrs.  Gray- 
son entirely  by  surj^rise. 

She  went  up  to  Ruth,  took  her  by  the  hand, 
kissed  her  and  cordially  welcomed  her  to  her 
brother's  home.  Rarely  demonstrative  even  to 
those  whom  she  knew  most  intimately,  and  never 
to  strangers,  Mrs.  Grayson  sincerely  appreciated 
this  unusual  manifestation  of  her  sister's   gra- 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  87 

ciousness,  and  when  she  had  an  opportunity,  she 
frankly  toid  her  so.  Without  further  delay  they 
passed  on  into  the  sitting-room,  where  Juha  had 
suddenly  flared  up  a  broad  glow  of  light. 

Mrs.  Grayson  assisted  Ruth  to  remove  her 
things,  while  Miss  Eachel  and  Juha  went  to  pre- 
pare the  tea.  Ruth  sank  into  the  luxurious  chair 
which  Mrs.  Grayson  wheeled  forward  for  her, 
inwardly  glad  to  be  beyond  the  noisy  clangor  of 
the  cars,  and  thankful,  too,  that  they  were 
safely  at  their  journey's  end  at  last. 

''  if  you  will  excuse  me,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs. 
Grayson,  after  seeing  that  Ruth  was  as  comfor- 
table as  she  could  make  her,  •'  I  will  go  into  the 
nursery  to  see  Nellie,  though  I  am  sure  she  has 
been  asleep  hours  ago.'" 

"Oh,  yes;  please  go,  Mrs.  Grayson.  Do  not 
mind  me.  I  should  not  like  to  think  that  I  had 
kept  you,"  said  Ruth  hurriedly.  "  I  hope  she 
has  been  perfectly  well. ' ' 

Mrs.  Grayson  presently  came  back  smiling, 
"  Yes,  she  is  sleeping  soundly  and  sweetly,  and 
seems  as  well  as  when  I  left  her." 

For  several  minutes  Ruth  did  not  stir  nor 
speak.  She  never  complained,  but  just  now  her 
attitude  expressed  great  weariness,  and  Mrs. 
Grayson  went  up  to  her  and  laid  her  hand  caress- 
ingly upon  her  shoulder. 

"I'm  sure  that  you  are  very  tired,  child;  and 
as  soon  as  you've  had  a  cup  of  tea  and  some  re- 
freshments you  must  retire.  You  ate  no  supper, 
and  very  little  dinner,  and  I  do  not  like  to  have 
you  go  to  bed  feeling  famished." 

After  Ruth  had  protested  that  she  did  not  feel 
hungry,  Mrs.  Grayson  added:  '•  There  is  no  need 
of  your  coming  down  to  breakfast  in  the  morn- 


88  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

ing  if  you  should  prefer  to  stay  in  bed  aud  sleep 
— or  even  till  you  are  thoroughly  rested.  It  will 
be  no  trouble  to  send  your  breakfast  to  you,  and 
will  in  no  wise  interfere  with  any  of  my  arrange- 
ments. ' ' 

Mrs.  Grayson  looked  tenderly  down  into  the 
uplifted,  tired  eyes,  as  she  spoke. 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Grayson.  You  are  very 
kind.  But  I  think  after  a  night's  rest  and  quiet 
I  shall  be  all  right  again." 

Just  then  Miss  Rachel  and  Julia  came  in,  the 
latter  bearing  the  silver  tea-tray  with  dainty 
cups  and  saucers,  and  Miss  Rachel  had  the  tea- 
urn  and  some  light  refeshments.  In  a  little  while 
she  brought  Ruth  a  cup  of  fragrant  tea.  which 
she  drank  more  to  gratify  Miss  Rachel  than  be- 
cause she  really  wanted  it,  but  declined  any  other 
refreshment. 

When  the  things  had  been  removed,  Mrs. 
Grayson  rose,  spoke  a  few  words  aside  to  her 
sister,  and  then  turned  to  Ruth. 

"  Now,  my  dear,  I  will  show  you  to  your 
room.  Rachel  will  occupy  to-night  the  one  ad- 
joining yours,  and  as  the  light  will  burn  in  the 
hall,  you  need  not  feel  nervous  or  the  least 
afraid.  To-morrow  I  shall  make  some  other  ar- 
rangement, and  give  you  a  room  near  my  own, 
if  you  prefer  it." 

"  You  see  we  thought  yon  were  a  httle  girl," 
interposed  Miss  Rachel,  pleasantly,  "and  so  made 
arrangements  for  you  to  sleep  in  the  nursery 
with  Nellie." 

"Then  that  is  my  proper  place, ' '  laughed  Ruth, 
good-humoredly,  "and  why  not  let  me  sleep 
there  to-night?" 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  89 


(( 


I'm  afraid  Nellie  would  have  you  up  before 
day,"  Mrs.  Grayson  said,  smiling.  "  She  is  such 
a  restless  little  body,  and  generally  gets  up  with 
the  birds.  Julia,  bring  Euth's  hat  and  bag,"  she 
added,  as  she  moved  away  to  show  Kuth  to  her 
room. 


90  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER    VII. 

When  Ruth  awoke  the  next  morning  she  lay- 
still  for  a  few  moments,  surveying  her  strange 
surroundings  with  puzzled  surprise.  Then  she 
remembered  where  she  was.  As  she  looked  about 
her  she  could  not  help  noticing  the  exquisite 
sense  of  harmony  in  the  beautiful  and  luxurious 
appointments  of  the  room. 

The  furniture  was  white  mahogany,  exqui- 
sitely carved  in  roses  in  relief,  and  ornamented 
in  cream  and  gold.  The  walls  were  hung  with 
well  chosen  pictures.  The  roof  of  a  bay  window 
made  an  alcove,  which  was  draped  across  the 
front  with  curtains  of  silk  bolting-cloth,  thin  as 
a  fairy  web.  and  embroidered  with  roses,  pink 
and  yellow,  drooping  their  delicate  petals  from 
fold  to  fold.  Inside  the  alcove  was  a  dressing- 
table  of  white  mahogany,  fitted  up  with  swing- 
ing brass  mirrors  and  draperies,  the  latter  being 
of  the  same  design  and  material  as  the  curtains. 
The  white  mantel  was  also  carved  in  roses  in  re- 
lief, while  the  tiled  hearth  was  surrounded  with 
a  brass  fender  of  artistic  design  and  workman- 
ship. In  the  centre  of  the  inlaid  floor  was  a  car- 
pet of  thickly  piled  Wilton,  pearly  in  ground  and 
over-strewn  with  pink  roses. 

Overhanging  all  this  was  a  ceihng  of  pale  blue, 
with  radiating  circles  and  sections,  and  these 
were  garlanded  with  pink  roses.  One  trailing 
branch  wandered  out  across  the  blue,  and  around 
the  roses  on  its  stem  a  swarm  of  butterflies  flut- 
tered, making  the  central  ornamentation  of  the 
ceiling.  Opening  off  the  bedroom  was  a  dainty 
toilet-room,  fitted  up  with  every  luxury. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  91 

With  that  feehng  of  homesickness  and  strange- 
ness, mingled  with  her  surroundings,  and  with 
an  aching  sense  of  desolation  because  of  her  re- 
cent bereavement,  Ruth  rose  and  dressed  herself 
and  went  to  the  window,  upon  which  the  sun 
was  shining  full  and  filling  the  room  with  its 
golden  effulgence. 

A  wandering  odor  of  delicious  sweetness  stole 
up  from  the  rose-garden  upon  which  she  looked, 
and  which  was  filled  with  the  rarest  flowers, 
bathed  in  dew  and  flashing  like  silver  in  the  sun- 
light. The  sky  was  cloudless,  and  among  the 
mantling  leaves  of  the  trees  many  sweet  warbles 
were  heard ;  but  loud  and  clear  above  them  all 
rose  the  notes  of  a  mocking-bird,  that  seemed  to 
fairly  gurgle  with  ecstatic  gushes,  then  suddenly 
changed,  and  began  to  pour  forth  defiant  mena- 
ces at  the  very  top  of  his  ^  oice.  For  a  moment 
Ruth  forgot  her  trouble,  and  stood  like  one  en- 
tranced by  the  sweet  influence  of  the  time  and 
scene.  Then  she  let  her  eyes  wander  off  in  the 
distance,  which  was  mysterious  with  silvery 
haze,  out  of  which  rose  a  purple  mass,  towering 
upward,  and  that  at  first  view  was  hardly  dis- 
cernible; but  as  the  morning  sun  lifted  itself 
over  the  lovely  landscape  and  the  guazy  mist 
melted,  the  purple  mass  assumed  a  well-defined, 
stately  size,  with  its  cloud-capped  summit,  and 
now  stood  out  in  serene  beauty  and  grandeur. 

From  the  midst  of  the  plain  it  traveled  up  till 
its  castellated  crest  seemed  to  be  lost  in  the  clouds. 
Ruth  suddenly  recollected  Mrs.  Grayson's  telling 
her  of  the  lovely  view  to  be  had  from  this  bay 
window,  which,  from  its  peculiar  structure  and 
situation,  commanded  an  eastern,  northern  and 
western  view,  and  that  one  of  the  greatest  curi- 


92  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

osities  in  the  world  was  distinctly  visible  from 
this  point — that  stupendous  work  of  Nature,  the 
Pilot  Mountain. 

The  natural  castle  which  stands  on  its  summit 
is  sheer  rock,  while  the  mountain  itself  is  so  reg- 
ularly rounded  and  so  surprisingly  similar  in  the 
curves  of  its  outlines,  as  it  slopes  gracefully  up- 
ward, that  the  beholder  will  persist  in  beheving 
that  the  whole  is  some  gigantic  work  of  art.  But 
on  a  near  approach  the  most  curious  and  skep- 
tical are  satisfied  that  Deity  only  could  have 
reared  this  magnificent  pile.  Mrs.  Grayson  told 
Ruth  that  the  summer  before  she  had  visited  the 
Pilot  with  a  party  of  excursionists,  and  was  one 
among  half  a  dozen  who  had  scaled  the  almost 
perpendicular  rock  shaft  which  stood  statue-like 
upon  the  mountain  crest.  But  she  had  been 
more  than  repaid  for  the  weary  struggle  she  had 
experienced  in  climbing  the  mighty  steep,  by  the 
sublime  prospect  which  she  had  enjoyed  after 
reaching  the  top  of  the  pinnacle. 

Ruth  felt  a  sense  of  awe  and  reverence  creep- 
ing over  her  as  she  continued  to  gaze  at  this 
wonderful  temple,  rising  up  seemingly  so  near 
across  the  sunny  expanse  of  splendor,  but  which 
was,  in  reality,  many  miles  away. 

Toward  the  right  a  long  line  of  blue  moun- 
tain peaks  rose  in  bold  but  not  lofty  heights,  and 
the  warm  sun  seemed  to  deepen  their  mystery 
as  it  touched  them  with  a  sunny  caress. 

These  were  the  Spurs  of  the  Brushy  and  Saura 
Town  Mountains. 

Ruth  was  aroused  from  her  revery  by  a  gentle 
knock  on  her  door,  which  made  her  start  ner- 
vously, and  a  conscious  color  came  mto  her  face. 
To  her  low  "  come  in, "  Mrs.  Grayson  opened  the 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  93 

door,  glanced  searchingly  around  the  room  and 
paused,  hesitatingly,  upon  the  threshold. 

"Ah,  here  you  are,""  she  said,  stepping  for- 
ward. '"  How  are  you,  my  dear;  and  how  did 
you  rest  last  night  ?  I  had  no  idea  that  you  were 
up  so  early,  but  expected  to  find  you  in  bed,  and 
I  hoped  asleep.  I  would  not  send  Julia,  because 
I  was  afraid  that  she  would  awaken  you. ' ' 

' '  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Grayson ;  I  rested  very 
well,  so  am  feeling  much  better  this  morning 
than  I  had  dared  to  hope.  I  haven't  kept  break- 
fast waiting,  I  trust,"  she  added,  as  the  bell  rang 
at  that  moment. 

"  Oh,  no,  it  is  just  ready;  and  if  you  wish  we 
will  go  down  now.  Nellie  is  quite  impatient  to 
meet  you,  and  seems  really  disappointed  that  you 
are  not  a  little  girl  like  herself. ' ' 

Ruth  noticed  that  the  same  exquisite  taste  and 
harmony  pervaded  the  arrangement  of  the  hall 
and  the  rooms  by  which  they  had  passed  on  their 
way  to  the  dining-room,  where  they  found  that 
Miss  Rachel  and  Nellie  had  preceded  them. 

Nellie,  who  had  been  receiving  a  short  lecture 
from  Miss  Rachel  on  good  behavior  during  her 
motJier's  absence  from  the  room,  shrank  back 
and  shyly  watched  Ruth's  sweet,  questioning 
face;  but  when  the  latter  smiled  and  held  out 
her  hand,  Nellie  yielded  at  once,  ran  forward 
and  threw  her  arms  around  Ruth's  neck. 

With  an  effort  Ruth  restrained  the  tears  that 
Nellie's  spontaneous  greeting  had  evoked,  and  as 
she  took  the  seat  Mrs.  Grayson  assigned  to  her 
on  her  right  at  the  table,  she  felt  an  eager  de- 
termination, despite  the  strong  sense  of  strange- 
ness which  held  her,  to  be  interested  in  and  ap- 
preciative of  all  that  she  knew  was  being  done 


94:  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

for  her  comfort  and  happiness.  The  meal  over, 
Mrs.  Grayson,  Ruth  and  NelUe  went  into  the 
sitting-room. 

Ruth's  first  impression  of  this  charming  room, 
of  which  she  took  a  rapid  survey,  was  most 
pleasing.  Never  were  comfort  and  opulence 
more  gracefully  and  effectively  put  into  practice 
than  here. 

Half  an  hour  later,  when  Miss  Rachel  came 
in,  it  was  to  bid  them  good-bye,  and  Mrs.  Gray- 
son rose  to  follow  her  to  the  door;  but  before 
she  left  the  room  she  turned  to  Nellie  and  said  : 
"  If  Ruth  is  not  too  tired,  perhaps  she  would  Hke 
to  go  into  the  rose-garden,  and  over  the  house 
and  grounds  and  get  acquainted  with  her  new 
home.     Can't  you  show  them  to  her,  Nellie  ?  '' 

Nellie  sprang  up  almost  before  her  mother  had 
finished  speaking,  and  fluttered  up  to  Ruth, 
catching  hold  of  her  hand. 

"Shall  we?"  she  eagerly  asked,  looking  up 
into  the  lovely  face  bent  toward  her. 

' '  Yes,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  go, ' '  said  Ruth  ; 
' '  but  I  must  get  my  hat ;  and  if  you  will  wait 
here  I'll  be  back  in  a  few  minutes." 

"  Oh,  mamma  has  two  or  three  garden  hats 
in  the  hall,  and  if  you  don't  mind  wearing  one, 
I'll  go  and  get  them,  and  you  can  select  the  one 
you  like."  Without  waiting  for  Ruth  to  refuse 
or  acquiesce,  she  ran  into  the  haU,  and  presently 
came  back  with  her  own  hat  on,  and  two  of  her 
mother's — one  in  either  hand. 

"  Take  your  choice, "  she  said,  holding  the  hats 
towards  Ruth,  "  This  is  the  nicest  one,  I  think, " 
holding  up  a  walking  hat  of  black  straw  trimmed 
in  black  ribbon  and  a  raven's  wing.  The  broad- 
brim garden  hat  she  had  cunningly  slipped  be- 
hind hh)r. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  95 

Ruth  laughed.  "  You've  left  me  no  choice  but 
to  submit  to  your  selection."  She  held  out  her 
hand  foi'  the  hat,  and  when  she  had  put  it  on, 
Nellie  asked. 

' '  Now,  where  shall  we  go  first  ?  ' ' 

"  Well.  I'll  let  you  decide  that,  too." 

"  Then  we'll  go  into  the  rose-garden  first  and 
see  the  flowers  while  the  dew  is  on  them.  Mam- 
ma says  they  are  prettier  then.  The  walks  are 
wide  and  clean,  so  you'll  not  get  wet  from  the 
dew.  I'll  get  mamma's  flower  shears  and  cut 
you  some  roses  for  your  vases.  I  know  just 
where  to  get  them.  I  heard  mamma  tell  x\uut 
Rachel  this  morning  that  if  you're  not  afraid  to 
stay  up-stairs,  she  would  let  you  have  the  room 
up  over  hers  for  your  room — ^where  you  stayed 
last  night,  you  know.  Before  you  came  we  all 
thought  you  were  a  little  girl  like  me,  so  Aunt 
Rachel  had  a  bed  put  in  the  nursery  for  you.  I 
was  awfully  sorry  when  mamma  told  me  this 
morning  that  you  were  grown  up,  but  I'm  not 
now — that  was  before  I  saw  you,  you  know. 
Please  wait  here — Miss — -Ruth — "  Nellie  hesi- 
tated and  looked  puzzled — "  I  don't  know  what 
I  must  call  you  V  ' ' 

"Cousin  Ruth."  quickly  suggested  Ruth, 
smiling. 

"  Well,  Cousin  Ruth,  please  you  wait  here  till 
I  put  away  this  hat  and  get  mamma's  shears,  so 
I  can  cut  you  some  flowers—  I'll  be  back  real 
quick. ' ' 

She  vanished  like  a  fairy,  but  presently  came 
back  with  the  flower  shears,  which  she  was  snap- 
ping in  such  a  way  as  to  threaten  a  dissolution 
of  their  fastenings.  "  Come  on,  I'll  show  you 
the  way,"   she  said  gayly.  her  little  heart  ex- 


96  UNDER   C40LDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

panding  with  all  kinds  of  generous  designs  for 
Ruth's  enjoyment  as  they  started  out  on  their 
tour  of  inspection. 

Ruth  hngered  admiringly  over  each  detail  of 
lavish  loveliness,  and  when  Nellie  finally  paused 
in  the  midst  of  her  pratthng  and  asked  Ruth 
what  she  thought  of  her  new  home,  she  said, 
"  Oh,  it  is  beautiful,  wonderfully  beautiful,  and 
I  never  fancied  that  I  was  coming  to  such  a 
lovely  place  as  this. ' ' 

''  Shall  we  go  and  have  a  swing  in  the  ham- 
mock now,  or  shall  we  go  in  ?  It's  awfully  nice 
down  yonder  under  that  big  oak. "  Nellie  glanced 
in  the  direction  of  the  tree,  and  then  looked  ea- 
gerly up  at  Ruth. 

"  Thank  you,  Nellie.  But  let  us  go  indoors 
now  before  the  sun  wilts  our  flowers,  and  put 
them  in  water ;  it  would  be  a  pity  for  them  to 
die  so  soon.  See,  they  are  beginning  to  droop 
already." 

The  next  moment  she  held  them  out  under  the 
spray  of  the  fountain.  Nellie  imitated  her  ac- 
tion, but  when  she  withdrew  them  from  the 
feathery  mist  she  gave  them  a  sudden  flirt,  which 
sent  a  shower  of  rose-petals  and  crystal  drops 
flying  in  every  direction. 

"  Oh,  do  excuse  me,  Cousin  Ruth;  I  beheve  I 
threw  some  water  on  your  dress.   I  am  so  sorry 

"  Never  mind  that;  there  is  no  harm  done 

"  Come  on  now,"  said  Nellie,  "  Mamma  said 
I  must  show  you  the  house,  too ;  but  you'll  be 
too  tired  to  go  all  over  it  to-day — I'll  just  show 
you  Uncle  Ralph's  rooms — his  office  and  study — 
and  the  parlors,  which  are  sort  of  off  from  the 
other  rooms.  Uncle  Ralph  says  he  is  going  to 
have  the  back  parlor  made  into  a  conservatory. 


55 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  97 

to  open  into  the  front  parlor  and  the  old  conser- 
vatory. I  heard  him  telhng  mamma  how  he  was 
going  to  have  it  done,  but  I  hope  he  won't  spoil 
the  parlors.  These  are  Uncle  Ralph's  rooms," 
she  added,  as  they  reached  the  left  of  the  en- 
trance where  were  Dr.  Leslie's  private  office  and 
study,  which  communicated  with  a  paved  walk 
by  a  door  in  the  side  of  the  gable.  After  inspect- 
ing these  beautiful  rooms,  they  passed  on  to  the 
elegant  parlors. 

Ruth  uttered  an  exclamation  of  admiration 
and  delight  as  they  crossed  the  threshold  and 
stood  within  the  luxurious  rooms. 

Everywhere  there  were  many  gems  of  art, 
rare  pictures,  statuary,  rich  tajiestries,  lacquered 
metals,  elegant  books,  and  everything  that  taste 
could  suggest  and  money  purchase — and  all  most 
exquisitely  arranged  about  the  luxurious  rooms, 
indicating  the  presence  of  a  mistress  of  unerring 
taste. 

"  I  just  know  you  are  tired,  Cousin  Ruth;  so 
I'm  going  to  take  you  to  mamma's  room  now, 
where  you  can  rest, ' '  said  Nellie,  running  on  a 
little  ahead  of  her ;  and  as  soon  as  they  were  in 
the  room,  she  wheeled  a  low  rocker  beside  the 
open  window,  and  motioned  to  Ruth  to  take  it, 
adding : 

"  This  is  for  you.  Cousin  Rath,  and  here  is  a 
fan,  too.  Give  me  your  hat  and  flowers,  and  I'll 
go  and  get  you  some  ice-water.  Mamma  will  be 
in  presently,  but  you  musn't  get  lonely  while 
you  are  waiting  for  her. " ' 

"No,  I'll  not,  Nellie,"  said  Ruth,  smiling; 
"  you  are  very  kind,  but  please  don't  trouble  to 
wait  on  me,  or  you'll  be  spoiling  nie.  I  don't 
care  about  the  water  just  now,  but  if  you  will 


98  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

tell  me  where  to  find  what  I  may  need,  I'm  sure 
I  shall  manage  very  well. ' ' 

Rath  glanced  curiously  around  the  delightful 
room  as  she  spoke.  Surely  the  mistress  must 
possess  a  certain  witchery  to  he  able  to  give  this 
room,  as  she  did  to  all  the  others,  that  glamour 
so  exceedingly  fascinating.  She  knew  that  it  was 
not  money  alone  that  produced  the  result  she 
saw. 

"  Oh!  it's  no  trouble  at  all,''  said  Nellie,  "  and 
I  like — ,  I  want  to  do  something  for  you.  Mam- 
ma told  me  before  you  came  that  I  must  be  very 
kind  to  you  and  love  you  as  a  sister.  I  have  two 
sisters  in  heaven — sister  Maud  and  little  Annie, 
but  I  don't  recollect  anything  about  them.  Mam- 
ma tells  me  about  them  often,  and  sometimes  it 
makes  her  sad.  and  she  cries.  I  have  a  little 
brother  in  heaven,  too;  and  then  I  have  a  big 
brother,  Carl,  who  has  gone  to  Europe,  and  will 
be  away  two  years.  That  is  his  picture  hanging 
over  there  near  mamma's  bed.  Don't  you  think 
he  is  very  good  looking'?  "  Nellie  asked  in  the 
most  matter-of-fact  tone,  looking  toward  the  pic- 
ture. But  before  Ruth  could  reply,  Mrs.  Gray- 
son called  to  Nellie  from  the  dining-room;  and 
with  a — "I'm  coming.  Mamma,"  she  hurried 
off,  leaving  Ruth  alone. 

Thus  forsaken  she  arose,  and  went  and  stood 
before  the  picture  to  get  a  better  view  of  it. 

It  was  a  life-size  portrait  done  in  oil,  and  was 
cased  in  a  richly  carved  gilt  frame.  Ruth  was 
by  no  means  an  art-critic,  but  she  had  had  op- 
portunities of  seeing  many  excellent  pictures  by 
some  of  the  best  masters,  and  she  believed  this 
was  a  perfectly  faithful  likeness  of  the  original. 
For  several  minutes  she  stood  steadily  regarding 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  99 

the  handsome  face  on  the  canvas,  until  the 
shadow  seemed  to  grow  into  a  hving  reahty. 

''  What  do  you  think  of  Carl's  likeness  ?  ''  She 
started  and  turned,  to  meet  the  smiling  eyes  of 
Mrs.  Grayson,  who  stood  behind  her. 

Ruth  glanced  quickly  back  at  the  picture, 
more  to  cover  her  confusion  than  because  she 
did  not  have  a  ready  answer. 

"  Now,  don't  compliment  it,  dear,  unless  you 
can  do  so  conscientiously,"  continued  Mrs.  Gray- 
son, with  that  soft  light  in  her  eyes  w^hich  always 
came  to  them  when  she  spoke  to  Ruth,  or  when 
she  talked  of  Carl. 

"  No,  I  shall  not.  I  think  the  picture  is  very 
handsome  indeed ;  and  if  this  is  a  faithful  copy 
of  Carl — I  mean  your  son,  and  evidently  it  is — I 
do  not  wonder  that  you  feel  very  proud  of  him." 
She  answ^ered  with  perfect  candor  and  sincerity. 

"  Thank  you.  child.  The  picture  was  painted 
by  one  of  the  best  artists  in  New  York  last  win- 
ter, and  I  do  not  think  he  could  have  obtained  a 
better  likeness.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  artist 
caught  the  true  conception  of  his  character — that 
subtle  suggestion  of  individuality — as  well  as  the 
physical  beauty  of  the  face,"  she  said,  with  all  a 
mother's  love  and  pride.  She  looked  intently  at 
the  picture  a  few  minutes,  sighed  softly,  and 
turned  to  say  something  to  Ruth,  when  at  that 
moment  the  door  bell  rang,  and  a  httle  later  Vir- 
gil entered  and  handed  her  three  cards  on  a  sil- 
ver salver. 

"  Ladies  to  see  Mrs.  Grayson, "  he  said,  bowed, 
and  withdrew. 

"  Mrs.  Wellington,  Mrs.  Biddle  and  Mrs.  Ray- 
nor, ''  Mrs.  Grayson  read  aloud,  and  dropped  the 
cards  into  a  receiver  on  the  table. 


100  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  to  excuse  me,  my 
dear ;  and  after  my  visitors  leave,  I  wish  to  have 
a  talk  with  you.  Make  arrangements  about  your 
room  and  some  other  little  matters. ' ' 

As  she  turned  to  leave  the  room  she  paused  in 
the  doorway,  looked  back  and  said : 

'*  You  will  find  several  late  magazines  and  pa- 
pers on  the  table;  and  if  there  are  any  you 
should  like  to  take  to  your  room,  you  need  feel 
no  hesitancy  in  doing  so.'" 

When  Mrs.  Grayson  had  gone  Ruth  looked  over 
the  magazines  and  papers,  selected  a  Century 
and  Scribner,  and  went  to  her  room. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  101 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

As  soon  as  the  visitors  had  gone,  Euth  came 
down-stairs  and  went  to  the  hbrary ;  and  finding 
the  door  open  and  Mrs.  Grayson  sitting  at  her 
writing  desk,  she  did  not  knock  but  simply 
asked,  "  May  I  come  in  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  my  dear;  I  am  glad  you  came.  I 
was  just  thinkng  about  you.  (Jome  in  and  have 
this  seat  here  near  me.   I  want  to  talk  with  you. ' ' 

Ruth  complied,  then  clasping  her  hands  to- 
gether in  her  lap,  sat  quietly  waiting.  Her 
mourning  draperies  seemed  to  accentuate  the 
pearly  freshness  and  delicacy  of  her  fair  face, 
which  now  wore  an  expression  of  sweet,  pathetic 
earnestness. 

Mrs.  Grayson  hesitated  a  moment  before  she 
began  to  speak,  then  she  went  on  very  gently 
and  lovingly. 

She  had  a  wonderful  way  of  saying  even  un- 
pleasant things  pleasantly,  and  now  as  she  talked 
something  in  her  tone  and  manner  broke  the 
spell  of  vague  uneasiness  which  had  begun  to 
settle  in  a  sort  of  formless,  depressing  sensation 
about  Ruth's  heart. 

This  was  the  first  time  she  had  spoken  to  her 
on  the  subject  of  her  father's  death;  and  when 
she  saw  the  expression  of  pain  and  sadness  in 
her  face  which  her  words  had  stirred,  a  broad, 
deep  sympathy  surged  up  afresh  in  her  heart  for 
this  dear  orphan  girl.  But  she  did  not  pause, 
because  she  knew  that  the  sooner  this  ordeal  was 
over  the  better  it  would  be  for  her. 

' '  I  dare  say,  my  dear, ' '  she  went  on,  ' '  that 
before  his  death  your  father  acquainted  you  with 


102  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

something  of  his  early  history — at  least,  that 
part  of  it  pertaining  to  the  pecuhar  relationship 
which  once  existed  between  himself  and  your 
guardian — a  kind  of  David  and  Jonathan  friend- 
ship, that  nothing  ever  should  have  disturbed ; 
so  all  this  I  shall  not  go  over  now."  She  paused 
a  moment,  then  continued.  "In  a  letter  to  my 
brother,  written  a  few  days  before  your  father's 
death,  and  mailed  immediately  after,  he  outlined 
plans  for  your  future,  which  he  suggested  that 
we  should  carry  out  if  we  thought  best  to  do  so. 
You  may  know  what  these  plans  are?"  Mrs. 
Grayson  looked  at  Ruth  interrogatively. 

'•  Yes,  he  told  me, '"  she  said,  making  an  affirm- 
ative movement  of  the  head,  at  the  same  time. 

"  They  are  more  especially  connected  with 
your  musical  education,*'  pursued  Mrs.  Grayson, 
''  which,  of  course,  we  are  perfectly  willing  that 
you  should  coatinue;  but  instead  of  teaching 
after  you  are  graduated  in  music,  as  your  father 
suggested,  we  desire  that  you  should  remain  with 
us,  making  this  your  permanent  home.  I  should 
be  glad  if  you  could  regard  my  brother  as  an  un- 
cle, and  myself,  not  as  an  aunt — but  as  a  mother ; 
that  is,  I  mean  look  upon  us  in  the  sense  of  that 
relationship  toward  you,  for,  indeed,  I  really 
love  you  as  a  daughter,  and  I'm  sure  you'll  find 
my  brother  a  most  genial  and  warm-hearted  un- 
cle. My  oldest  daughter,  Maud,  died  several 
years  ago,  and  had  she  lived  she  would  have  been 
very  nearly  your  age  now.  I  would  have  you 
take  dear  Maud's  place  in  my  heart  and  home." 

Ruth  had  listened  so  far  in  silence,  her  hands 
tightly  clasped,  while  tears,  which  she  could  not 
restrain,  rushed  to  her  eyes.  The  magnanimity 
of  Mrs.  Grayson's  offer,   her  disinterested  love 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  103 

and  friendship,  and  her  generous  words  of  trust 
and  faith  in  herself,  all  these  awoke  a  strange 
thrill  in  her  heart,  and  for  a  minute  she  could 
not  speak.  When  she  did  it  was  in  a  low  voice 
of  one  struggling  to  get  the  mastery  of  herself, 
so  that  she  might  say  something  to  relieve  her- 
self of  the  burden  of  gratitude  that  overwhelmed 
her. 

"  Oh,  my  dear  Mrs.  Grayson,  I  cannot  tell  you 
how  much  I  thank  you;  and,  indeed,  you  do  not 
know  how  unworthy  I  feel  for  all  your  goodness. 
When  papa  died  I  fear  —yes,  I  was  very  rebel- 
lious, for  it  seemed  that  God  had  taken  from  me 
not  only  my  best  and  dearest  friend,  but  the  last 
link  that  bound  me  to  my  earthly  home;  and 
now,  in  a  short  time,  and  in  such  an  unexpected 
way.  He  has  given  me  such  dear,  kind  friends, 
a  beautiful  home,  and  everything  that  I  could 
ask  or  wish  to  make  me  happy  in  this  life — oh ! 
I  do  not  deserve  it  I  I  do  not  deserve  these  bless- 
ings, but  I  shall  pray  continually  that  I  may  not 
abuse  them,  nor  be  forgetful  ever  again  of  His 
loving-kindness  to  me." 

'"■  Yes.  with  His  help.  Pm  sure  you  will  not 
abuse  them,  dear  child;  and,  I  believe,  too,  that 
we  shall  get  on  very  happily  together, "  said  Mrs. 
Grayson.  '•  The  money  which  your  father  left 
in  trust  with  my  brother  for  you,  he  will  invest 
in  some  safe  securities,  and  make  over  the  use  of 
the  interest  to  you,  which  you  will  be  privileged 
to  spend  in  such  a  way  as  you  may  think  best." 

Ruth  looked  up  with  an  eager  gleam  in  her 
eyes  that  made  her  face  shine  in  spite  of  its  sad- 
ness. 

"  Then  I  would  like  by  all  means  to  expend  a 
part,  outside  of  the  amount  required  to  supply 


104  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

me  with  necessary  clothing,  to  complete  my  mu- 
sical education,  and  at  the  same  time  resume  the 
studies  I  laid  down  when  I  was  suddenly  called 
from  school  in  San  Francisco  by  papa's  illness. 
Have  you  a  good  school  here  where  I  might  do 
this?" 

Mrs.  Grayson  looked  at  Euth  as  though  she 
were  surprised  at  her  question. 

' '  Yes,  my  dear ;  the  Moravian  Academy.  Why, 
child,  have  you  never  heard  of  this  famous  old 
school  ?  It  is  the  pride  of  the  two  cities,  and  one 
of  the  very  oldest  seats  of  learning  in  the  South. 
It  has  a  peculiarly  interesting  history,  which 
would  make  profitable  reading,  and  I  hope  some 
one  may  yet  write  it  out  and  give  it  to  the  pub- 
lic in  book  form.  Since  its  foundation,  in  1802, 
it  has  maintained  itself  without  a  single  endow- 
ment from  any  source. 

"  A  wealthy  gentleman,  of  the  Moravian 
church,  bestowed  a  gift  of  one  thousand  dollars 
to  the  Art  Department  in  memory  of  his  infant 
daughter  who  died  some  years  ago — known  as 
the  Louise  Memorial;  and  his  brother  and  an- 
other generous-hearted  gentleman  made  valua- 
ble donations  to  the  library.  Then  there  was  a 
gentleman  from  Tennessee  who  made  a  similar 
gift,  but  no  special  chair  has  been  endowed. 
Recently,  however,  steps  have  been  taken  for 
the  establishment  of  an  endowment  fund  for  the 
Academy,  an  appropriation  of  several  thousand 
dollars  being  made  by  the  Moravian  Synod  for 
that  purpose ;  and  this  has  been  supplemented 
by  over  a  thousand  dollars  from  the  Academy's 
Alumna3,  and  about  two  thousand  donated  by 
one  of  the  brothers  I  have  mentioned.  The.-ie 
amounts,  with  many  donations  and  legacies  that 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  105 

will,  very  probably,  be  received,  will  cause  this 
endowment  to  accumulate  rapidly,  and  the  Acad- 
emy doubtless  at  no  distant  day  will  be  able  to 
boast  of  being  the  best  endowed  institution  in 
the  South. 

"  Now,  with  regard  to  the  home-life  of  the 
school,  it  is  made  as  delightful  as  possible  for  the 
pupils,  while  at  the  same  time  strict  discipline, 
thorough  teaching  and  practical  instruction  are 
the  rules  rigidly  adhered  to  and  enforced." 

' '  When  does  the  next  term  begin  ?  ' '  asked 
Ruth,  ' '  I  suppose  the  school  is  closed  now  for  the 
summer  vacation. ' ' 

"  Yes,  so  it  is.  The  term  generally  begins 
early  in  September,  and  sometimes  on  the  open- 
ing day  as  many  as  two  hundred  or  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pupils  answer  the  roll-call.  A  great 
many  years  ago  the  people  of  the  South  sent 
their  daughters  from  distant  portions  of  the 
country  in  carriages,  by  stages,  and  even  in  ox- 
wagons  ;  but  that  was  before  there  was  a  rail- 
road anywhere  in  the  United  States." 

Rath  looked  much  surprised.  "  Oh,  how  times 
have  changed  and  everything  progressed  since 
then,''  she  said.  "  It  seems  hard  to  realize  that 
so  much  that  is  really  wonderful  has  been  ac- 
complished during  the  time.  I  think  it  would 
be  very  interesting  to  know  how  many  pupils 
have  been  graduated  from  the  Academy  since  it 
was  first  established." 

"  Oh,  that  is  an  easy  enough  matter  to  find 
out,  for  upon  the  records  of  the  school  all  the 
names  of  the  pupils  who  graduate,  and  those 
who  do  not,  are  preserved;  and,  besides,  there 
are  many  interesting  facts  relating  both  to  the 
history  of  the  church  and  school  to  be  found 

8 


l(H\  UNDER    GOLDEN   SK[ES:    OR, 

upon  this  record.  Sometime  since  the  statement 
was  given  to  the  pubhc  through  the  press — which 
statement  was  copied  from  the  correctly-kept 
school  record — that  more  than  ten  thousand 
Alumna?  claim  the  Academy  as  their  Alma  Ma- 
ter, including  some  of  the  most  distinguished 
ladies  of  the  South,  who  have  gone  forth  to  shed 
an  influence  upon  society,  second  to  none  in  the 
nation.  Amongst  them  two  have  been  called 
upon  to  do  the  honors  of  the  White  House — Mrs. 
President  Polk  and  Mrs.  Patterson,  daughter  of 
President  Johnson.  Mrs.  Stonewall  Jackson  and 
Mrs.  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill  were  also  educated  there. 

'*  >Jany  of  the  old  Alumnae  occasionally  send 
letters  to  the  Academy  paper,  and  to  the  Alura- 
Uce  meeting,  which  takes  place  annually  during 
commencement  week :  and  this  meeting  is  always 
one  of  the  most  charming  features  of  that  de- 
lightful occasion.  These  letters  are  full  of  love 
and  loyalty  and  veneration  for  the  school  of  their 
youth,  with  messages  of  encouragement  to  the 
teachers  who  have  succeeded  those  of  their  day 
aud  generation." 

"  I  have  read  somewhere,  that  very  many  of 
the  schools  and  colleges  in  the  South  were  closed 
during  the  civil  war.  Was  the  Moravian  Acad- 
emy closed  too  ?  "  asked  Ruth. 

"  No,  the  school  flourished  all  through  the  war. 
Parents  sent  their  daughters  there  for  a  safe  re- 
treat, knowing  that  evil  was  less  likely  to  befall 
them  there  than  elsewhere.  When  Stoneman's 
raiding  party  entered  the  town,  the  Mayor  im- 
mediately surrendered,  and  together  with  the 
President  of  the  Academy,  asked  that  a  Federal 
guard  be  stationed  around  the  building  for  pro- 
tection. This  was  readily  granted,  and  the  teach- 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  107 

eis  and  scholars  continued  their  duties  unmo- 
lested." Mrs.  Grayson  paused  reflectively,  then 
said: 

"  There  is  another  historical  fact  connected 
with  this  old  Moravian  town  which  may  interest 
you.  Daring  the  Revolutionary  War,  it  seems 
that  that  was  a  time  of  great  trouble  for  the  Mo- 
ravians. Having  been  allowed  to  hold  their  own 
views  about  not  bearing  arms  and  taking  oaths, 
they  were  sometimes  subjected  to  many  disa- 
greeable indignities.  Sometimes  the  Continen- 
tals, sometimes  the  British  traveled  through  the 
settlement,  entailing  many  losses  upon  the  peo- 
ple. After  Cornwallis  surrendered  and  peace  was 
declared,  his  whole  army  passed  through  the 
town  en  route  to  Virginia. ' ' 

''Certainly  they  had  some  unhappy  experi- 
ences— I  mean  the  Moravians — but  it  seems  they 
have  come  safely  out  of  them  all,"  said  Ruth, 
thoughtfully. 

' '  Yes,  I  believe  they  have, ' '  said  Mrs.  Gray- 
son. "  One  afternoon  next  week  we  will  drive 
past  the  Academy,  so  you  can  see  the  buildings ; 
but  I  don't  think  you  will  have  an  opportanity 
to  go  over  the  grounds  and  park  in  the  rear  till 
the  school  opens  in  the  fall.  The  new  Academy 
was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  congregation 
house,  joining  the  Academy  building  on  one  side 
and  connected  with  the  church  by  a  covered  pas- 
sage-way on  the  other,  built  during  the  year 
1854.  The  main  building  alone  presents  a  front 
of  one  hundred  feet — opening  directly  on  the 
street  from  the  broad  portico,  built  in  the  Doric 
style  of  architecture — four  stories  in  height,  a 
massive  pile  constructed  of  pressed  red  brick. 
There  are  north  and  south  wings,  broad  halls  and 


108  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

well-ventilated  rooms,  by  means  of  trunk  venti- 
lators, four  of  which  run  up  from  the  lower  floors, 
extending  above  the  roof.  From  these  trunks, 
the  different  rooms  are  connected  by  branches. 
The  buildings  are  supphed  with  gas  and  water 
throughout,  and  heated  by  large  wood  stoves, 
providing  an  even  temperature  during  severe 
weather. 

' '  The  broad  front  doors  of  the  Academy  are 
seldom  opened  except  on  grand  occasions,  as 
visitors  are  received  at  the  President's  house,  in 
the  rear  of  which  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
parks  to  be  found  anywhere.  The  Principars 
house  is  a  gray  brick  building  on  the  left  of  the 
square,  and  opposite  the  Moravian  church.'' 
:/^ Just  then  the  wind  swayed  out  the  lace  cur- 
tain from  its  fastening,  and  while  Mrs.  Grayson 
was  putting  it  back,  Ruth  asked ; 

' '  Do  you  think  I  can  secure  as  good  a  musical 
education  at  the  Academy  as  if  I  went  abroad  ? 
Papa  was  anxious  that  I  should  go  to  the  Paris 
Conservatory,  and  I  suppose  I  should  have  gone 
there  had  he  lived." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson.  "  So  far  as  actual 
education  in  music  goes,  I  don't  believe  there  is 
the  least  necessity  to  go  away  from  here  to  get 
it,  in  any  branch  of  the  art.  You  know  that  a 
great  many  first-rate  teachers  from  Europe  have 
come  and  settled  in  this  country,  helping  to 
maintain  and  raise  the  standard.  Where  for- 
merly there  was  one  good  teacher,  there  are  now 
ten,  and  indeed  the  number  of  pupils  has  in- 
creased to  even  greater  extent.  I  am  sure  you 
will  find  at  the  Academy  here  teachers  of  great 
skill  and  distinction,  who  are  thorough  masters 
of  their  instruments  and  of  musical  composition. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  109 

The  orchestral  coDcerts,  which  are  given  at  the 
Academy  from  time  to  time,  cannot  be  surpassed, 
and  their  choruses  can  hold  their  own  with  the 
best  in  the  country," 

"  But  don't  you  think  that  when  one  has  fin- 
ished his  or  her  musical  studies  in  this  country, 
it  is  an  advantage  to  spend  some  time  abroad, 
especially  in  Germany,  where  the  devotion  to 
art  for  the  art's  sake  is  more  intense  and  general 
than  in  this  new  country,  and  where  the  musical 
traditions  and  environments  are  so  strong?  " 

Ruth  asked  the  question  with  much  serious 
earnestness,  somehow  hoping  that  Mrs.  Grayson 
would  verify  her  opinion  on  the  subject. 

"  Well,  yes;  I  suppose  so,"  answered  Mrs. 
Grayson,  candidly.  "  The  prestige  which  Eu- 
ropean travel  and  study  afford,  by  reason  of  the 
prejudice  in  favor  of  everything  foreign,  must 
not  be  overlooked.  Unquestionably,  there  is  a 
certain  prestige  we  all  acknowledge  for  the  stu- 
dent and  professor  of  music,  in  the  fact  that  he 
has  studied  abroad." 

Ruth  did  not  give  a  direct  answer  to  Mrs. 
Grayson,  but  said  a  little  abruptly,  "  I  should 
like  to  study  Italian,  too,  because  I  believe  it  is 
the  most  appropriate  and  helpful  language  in  the 
study  of  vocal  art;  and  French,  German  and 
elocution  also,  I  should  like  to  take  up  again. ' ' 

"  Thorough  instruction  in  all  these  branches 
can  be  had  at  the  Academy;  but  I'm  afraid  the 
hne  of  arduous  study  that  you  have  marked  out 
for  yourself  will  heavily  tax  both  your  time  and 
strength ;  so  I  warn  you  in  the  outset,  that  as 
soon  as  I  detect  any  evil  effects  from  overwork, 
I  shall  put  in  a  vigorous  protest,  and  enforce  it, 
too,"  laughed  Mrs.  Grayson,  softly. 


110  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

She  rose  from  her  seat,  and  went  up  to  Ruth 
and  put  her  hand  on  her  shoulder. 

*'  Would  you  mind  playing  one  or  two  pieces 
for  me,  dear  ?  I  am  very  anxious  to  hear  you 
play  and  sing,  too;  but  I  shall  not  ask  you  to 
sing ;  you  may  do  so  if  you  will, ' '  Mrs.  Grayson 
added,  with  delicate  consideration  for  her  late 
sorrow. 

"  Of  course  I  will  play  and  sing  for  you,  too, 
if  you  desire  it, " '  she  returned,  with  a  sweet,  sad 
smile,  always  forgetful  of  herself  or  her  own 
feelings  when  it  was  in  her  power  to  give  others 
pleasure,  or  when  she  thought  she  could  be  use- 
ful to  those  around  her. 

Ruth  sat  down  upon  the  stool  and  raised  her 
hands  to  the  key-board.  All  at  once  the  recol- 
lection of  her  recent  bereavement  was  borne  in. 
upon  her  in  such  an  overwhelming  degree  as  to 
make  her  almost  lose  her  self-control.  She 
clasped  her  hands  together,  and  somethmg  like 
a  sob  escaped  her. 

The  sight  of  the  open  instrument  recalled  to 
her  so  vividly  the  last  time  she  had  touched  a 
piano. 

With  a  masterful  effort  she  recovered  herself, 
and  again  raising  her  hands  to  the  board,  grace- 
fully swept  her  fingers  over  the  ivory  keys.  The 
touch  was  exquisite.  Mrs.  G-rayson  suddenly 
looked  up. 

"  Is  there  any  special  piece  you  wish  me  to 
play?"  Ruth  asked,  quietly  turning  to  her, 
while  a  shadow  as  of  some  painful  memory  still 
hovered  over  her  sweet  face. 

"  No — well,  yes — there  was  a  piece;  I  have 
been  looking  for  it,  but  I  cannot  find  it.  I  must 
have  lent  it  to  some  one,  and  it  has  not  been  re- 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  Ill 

turned.   But  play  anything  you  like,  child,"  said 
Mrs.  Grayson,  sitting  down  near  the  piano. 

Euth  turned  to  the  instrument  again,  and  for 
a  moment  absently  let  her  fingers  wander  over 
the  keys.  Then,  as  if  utterly  unconscious  of 
time  and  place,  a  sudden  inspiration  seemed  to 
come  to  her,  and  she  played  as  she  had  rarely 
played  before. 

"  You  have  taken  me  completely  by  surprise, 
child,''  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  w^hen  Ruth  had  ceased 
playing,  and  let  her  hands  slip  from  the  keys  to 
her  lap.  "  I  do  not  know  when  I  have  enjoyed 
such  a  musical  treat.  What  more  is  there  for 
you  to  learn  about  music,''  she  added,  enthusi- 
astically. 

'*  Oh,  so  much  that  I  do  not  yet  know.  I  am 
by  no  means  satisfied  with  my  present  attain- 
ment, and  am  so  eager  to  learn  more.  But  I  fear 
I  shall  never  reach  that  point,  even  after  years 
of  unremitting  study,  where  I  can  safely  cease 
the  battle,  and  cry — victory!  for  there  yet  re- 
mains a  great  deal  for  me  to  learn.  Now  shall 
I  sing  something,  too  ?  '' 

"  I  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  you,  if  you  are  not 
too  tired." 

"Oh,  no,''  she  returned,  brightening,  "I'm 
not  tired  at  all.  I  am  so  devoted  to  music  that 
I  quite  forget  myself  when  I  am  playing. ' ' 

She  turned  to  the  piano,  played  a  few  chords, 
and  the  next  moment  began  to  sing.  She  sang 
superbly.  Every  note  was  true  and  clear,  every 
phrase  full  of  expression.  As  one  delicious  mel- 
ody after  another  filled  the  room,  each  marked 
by  a  depth  of  earnestness  and  noble  enthusiasm, 
Mrs.  Grayson's  bewilderment  deepened  into  the 
sincerest  admiration  and  enjoyment. 


112  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

The  full,  sweet  cadence  had  floated  out  through 
the  open  window,  and  when  she  finished  and 
looked  round  at  some  unusual  stir  in  the  room, 
she  found  herself  in  the  centre  of  an  entranced 
circle  of  hearers  whom  she  had  drawn  to  her, 
fascinated  and  held  spell-bound  by  her  matchless 
voice. 

Mrs.  Grayson  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Dear  child,  you  sing  divinely.  God  has  in- 
deed given  you  a  marvelous  gift,  and  every  day 
you  should  thank  Him  for  it ;  and,  too,  for  that 
depth  of  religious  feeling  which  He  has  deeply 
implanted  in  your  heart,  without  which  com- 
plete success  in  your  art  would  have  been  unat- 
tainable, however  admirable  the  musical  skill  is 
present  in  your  voice.  I  believe  the  truth  of  the 
fact  can  be  easily  proved  by  many  a  one's  indi- 
vidual experience  of  singers.  ' 

'•  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Grayson;  it  is  very  kind  of 
you  to  say  these  things ;  and  I  am  very  glad, 
too,  that  I  have  been  the  means  of  giving  you 
pleasure;  and  my  other  hearers,  one  of  whom  I 
have  not  seen  before, ' '  she  said,  as  she  got  up 
and  moved  across  the  room  where  Aunt  Milly 
sat,  just  within  the  doorway,  swaying  her  body 
back  and  forth  in  the  abandon  of  her  ecstacy, 
while  the  tears  coursed  down  her  dusky  cheeks. 
Julia  stood  leaning  up  against  the  doorway,  with 
Virgil  on  the  opposite  side,  while  Nellie,  who  had 
been  standing  immediately  behind  Ruth,  in  her 
eager,  impulsive  way,  clasped  her  about  her 
waist,  telling  her  that  she  sang  ' '  perfectly  beau- 
tiful— just  like  Dot,  her  pet  canary." 

"This -is  Aunt  Milly,  I  believe.  I  am  glad  to 
see  you.     I  hope  you  are  well." 

"  God  bless  you,  honey,  an'  the  Lord  be  prais'd. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  113 

I  been  listen'  to  your  beautiful  sing;in\  an', 
for  shure,  I  never  'spected  to  hear  the  like  of 
such  beyan'  the  Golden  Gates  of  Heben.  Oh, 
chile — "  Aunt  Milly  broke  off  abruptly,  she 
was  so  overcome  with  her  emotion  that  she  could 
not  speak  for  a  little  while,  but  she  rose  to  her 
feet  and  presently  said  in  a  choked  voice,  "some- 
time, chile,  I'll  talk  to  you;  now  I  can't;  I  jes' 
can't."  She  wiped  her  eyes  with  the  back  of 
her  hand,  gave  Ruth  a  grateful  look  and  left  the 
room. 

Very  soon  the  dinner  bell  rang  and  Nellie  ran 
in  to  pilot  Ruth  to  the  dining-room. 

Late  that  afternoon  Ruth  came  down-stairs. 
After  taking  a  few  turns  up  and  down  the  long, 
cool  veranda,  which  was  dimmed  by  the  shade 
of  the  trelliscd  rose-vine,  she  sat  down  to  enjoy 
the  beauty  of  the  scene  before  her.  Every  now 
and  then,  far  down  the  street,  a  sound  reached 
her  ear.  which  at  first  she  did  not  comprehend, 
but  as  it  drew  near,  she  heard  more  distinctly 
the  repeated  cry,  "Daily!  Daily!"  then  for  a 
few  moments  it  seemed  to  have  ceased  altogether. 
"  Daily !  ''  suddenly  the  voice  screamed  in  a  shrill 
tone,  startlingly  near,  and  Ruth  started  from  her 
seat  and  looked  around.  Seeing  the  little  bare- 
foot carrier  patiently  holding  out  a  paper  toward 
her,  which  he  had  pulled  from  the  compact  bun- 
dle he  carried  under  his  arm,  and  staring  hard 
at  her,  she  rose  at  once  and  came  to  the  edge 
of  the  veranda. 

' '  Must  you  leave  one  here  ?  ' '  she  asked,  tak- 
ing the  paper  from  his  begrimed  hands. 

"  Oh,  yes;  the  doctor  takes  it.  He  couldn't 
do  without  The  Sentinel.  I  was  late  getting 
round  this  evening.     The  press  got  out  of  fix. " 


114  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

After  volunteering  this  j^iece  of  iuforraatioii. 
he  turned  briskly  away,  muttering  something  to 
himself,  which  Ruth  overheard,  and  which  made 
her  smile. 

"  By  golly,  she's  pretty  as  a  pink/'  Then  with 
careless,  swinging  strides  he  went  down  the 
walk  whistling  ''  Annie  Eoony,"  which  he  in- 
terluded  at  regulai-  intervals  with  "Daily !  Daily ! ' ' 
as  he  delivered  his  papers  from  door  to  door. 
Gradually  the  sound  grew  fainter  and  fainter, 
and  finally  faded  away  altogether. 

As  Ruth  turned  and  walked  back  to  her  seat 
she  glanced  down  wi^h  quiet  indifference  at  the 
paper  she  held  in  her  hand;  but  as  she  was  in 
the  act  of  folding  it  up,  her  own  name  in  the  list 
of  "  Personals, "  caught  her  eye,  and  the  next 
moment  she  was  alert  with  curiosity  and  inter- 
est. She  read :  ' '  Mrs.  Helen  Grayson,  who  went 
to  New  York  with  her  son,  who  has  sailed  for 
Europe,  returned  home  last  night  accompanied 
by  Miss  Ruth  Arnold,  of  California,  Dr.  Leslie's 
beautiful  ward.'' 

As  a  rule  people  like  best  the  papers  they  are 
accustomed  to  read,  and  sometimes  find  it  rather 
tedious  to  read  any  other.  But  The  Sentinel  all 
at  once  became  imbued  with  a  new  interest  to 
Ruth,  and  she  read  it  quite  through  before  she 
folded  it,  and  returned  to  the  sitting-room. 


IN   THE   XEW   ELDORADO.  115 


CHAPTER  IX. 

One  morning,  three  days  later,  as  Ruth  was 
coming  dovvn-staiis  in  answer  to  the  late  break- 
fast bell,  Nellie  waylaid  her. 

'  *  How  sweet  you  do  look  this  morning.  Cousin 
Ruth,"  she  cried.  "  Now,  just  guess  who  came 
last  night.     I  shan't  tell  you." 

Ruth  laughed;  ''I'm  not  clever  at  guessing, 
Nellie:  but  1*11  make  a  venture.  Was  it  vour 
Uncle  Ralph  •?  " 

' '  Oh,  who  told  you  "? ' ' 

"  No  one:  but  I  knew  your  mother  had  been 
expecting  him  home,  and  of  course  supposed 
that  it  was  he." 

"  Now  come  right  on  in  tlie  dining-room  and 
see  him,"  Nellie  said,  catching  her  by  the  hand. 
"  You  know  Uncle  Ralph  is  the  best  and  grand- 
est man  in  all  the  world,  and  I  want  you  to  see 
him.     Breakfast  is  ready,  too." 

Dr.  Leslie  was  standi  ug  beside  the  window 
deeply  absorbed  in  his  paper,  but  looked  up  just 
then,  as  he  caught  the  rustling  sound  of  a  wo- 
man's garment. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  said,  "  I  did  not  see 
you  when  you  first  entered  the  room.  It  seems 
quite  needless  to  ask  how  you  are  this  morning, 
since  you  are  looking  so  well." 

He  took  her  hand  in  his  as  he  spoke,  and  there 
was  something  in  his  elegant,  easy  bearing  which 
set  her  entirely  at  her  ease  at  once. 

"  Thank  you.  I  am  quite  well,  and  really  feel 
better  than  any  day  since  my  arrival.  You  seem 
to  have  a  nice  climate,  and  it  is  much  more 
pleasant  here  than  I  had  hoped  to  find  it  at  this 
season  of  the  year. ' ' 


116  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

"  Yes,  as  pleasant  here  as  you'll  find  it  almost 
anywhere.  Has  Mrs.  Grayson  taken  you  out 
driving  yet,  so  you  might  see  something  of  our 
pretty  town  ?  ' ' 

' '  No,  there  have  been  visitors  to  call  constantly 
since  we  came,  except  one  afternoon,  when  she 
went  to  see  a  little  sick  child,  so  she  has  not  had 
an  opportunity  to  do  so."  Ruth  spoke  with  that 
unconventional  and  winsome  frankness  which 
was  one  of  her  greatest  charms,  and  which  her 
guardian  so  much  admired. 

"  Then  if  you  have  no  engagement  with  Mrs. 
Grayson  this  afternoon.  I  shall  be  glad  to  take 
you  out  in  some  of  the  pleasant  parts  of  our  city, 
and  in  the  suburbs,  too,  where  we  have  some 
specially  fine  drives." 

"  No,  I  have  no  engagement  to  go  out  with 
Mrs.  Grayson  this  afternoon,  and  shall  be  pleased 
to  go  with  you. ' '  she  said,  simply. 

After  recounting  the  experiences  of  his  pleas- 
ant sojourn  in  Philadelphia  for  the  last  few  days, 
he  turned  to  Mrs.  Grayson  and  asked,  "  Well, 
have  you  decided  where  you'll  go  this  summer — 
to  the  mountains  or  seashore  ?  ' ' 

Mrs.  Grayson  looked  quickly  up  at  her  brother, 
then  glanced  toward  Ruth. 

"  Really,  I  haven't  thought  much  about  it 
since  my  return;  but  I  believe  I'm  rather  in- 
clined to  favor  the  mountains  this  summer.  We 
might  spend  two  or  three  weeks  at  Asheville, 
take  in  the  Warm  Springs.  Roan  Mountains, 
Blowing  Rock  and  Waynes ville  White  Sulphur 
Springs.  The  latter  place  is  such  a  delightful 
summer  resort,  and  we  can  be  so  quiet  and  re- 
tired there,  that  we  might  spend  most  of  the 
time  at  the  White  Sulphur." 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  IIT 

"'■  I  think  your-  program  is  a  very  pleasant  and 
enticing  one, ' '  said  Dr.  Leslie ;  ' '  but  what  does 
Miss  Euth  say  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  shall  be  happy  to  accede  to  any  plan 
that  Mrs.  Grayson  may  suggest.  I  should  like 
to  see  your  mountain  scenery.  Since  I've  read 
Christian  Reid's  book,  'The  Land  of  the  Sky,' 
I  am  more  curious  than  ever  to  see  the  places 
which  she  depicts  in  such  glowing  terms.  But 
has  she  not  greatly  exaggerated  them,  in  her  de- 
scriptions ? ' ' 

"  Not  at  all,"  emphatically  responded  Dr.  Les- 
lie. "  I  don't  think  it  possible  for  any  one  to  do 
our  mountain  scenery  justice  in  a  pen-sketch. 
No  picture  is  like  it,  and  the  richest  delineations 
of  glowing  fancy  in  prose  and  verse,  have  fallen 
far  behind  it.  You  know  that  the  mountain 
scenery  of  North  Carolina,  because  of  its  gran- 
deur and  sublimity,  has  been  called  the  Switzer- 
land of  America,  Undoubtedly,  for  splendor, 
beauty  and  variety  our  mountains  will  compare 
with  any  in  the  United  States." 

Nellie  handed  him  her  glass  just  then,  and  he 
paused  to  pour  her  some  milk,  then  resumed : 

"  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  North  Carolina 
has  more  popular  seaside  and  mountain  resorts 
than  any  other  individual  State,  as  well  as  a 
greater  variety  of  gems  and  precious  stones.  Yes, 
I'm  sure  you'll  find  at  any  of  the  places  that 
Mrs.  Grayson  has  mentioned,  picturesque  scen- 
ery, good  society  and  delightful  climate  at  this 
time  of  year;  and  most  of  them  are  easily  acces- 
sible, too," 

There  was  no  surer  way  of  arousing  Dr.  Leslie's 
enthusiasm  than  by  speaking  of  his  native  State, 
or  whatever  concerned  her. 


118  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  After  that  emphatic  endorsement,  Ruth,  I 
fancy  we  have  nothing  more  to  say,  but  that 
we'll  go,"  laughed  Mrs.  Grayson. 

"lam  ready  at  any  time,"  answered  Ruth, 
smiling. 

' '  How  soon  do  you  think  you  can  get  off  ?  " 
he  asked ;  ' '  best  not  to  put  it  off  too  long. ' ' 

"  In  about  a  week  or  two,  I  suppose.  We'll 
begin  to  feel  the  heat  uncomfortably  here  by 
that  time,  and  then  we'll  better  appreciate  the 
mountain  breezes,  as  well  as  the  scenery,"  re- 
turned Mrs.  Grayson. 

"  I  think  we've  had  some  right  uncomfortable 
days  already, ' '  said  Dr.  Leslie,  making  a  move- 
ment to  leave  the  table. 

"  Well,  one  thing  is  very  certain,  Mamma," 
broke  in  Nellie  at  last,  with  a  rueful  pout ;  "  I 
don't  intend  to  stay  behind  with  Aunt  Rachel 
this  time.  Now,  aren't  you  going  to  let  me  go 
with  you  ?  Please  do.  Mamma!"  she  wailed,  one 
moment  rebellious,  the  next  supjDlicating.  She 
had  made  repeated  attempts  before  this  to  get  in 
a  word  edgewise,  but  her  mother  had  managed 
to  silence  her  by  a  look  and  a  reproving  shake  of 
the  head,  and  thus  had  kept  her  in  the  back- 
ground. 

"  Why,  certainly,  pet,"  laughed  Dr.  LesHe; 
"  all  that  has  been  settled,  and  I'm  the  one  to 
stay  behind  this  time." 

"  Oh,  no.  Uncle  Ralph;  you've  got  to  go  too," 
exclaimed  Nellie,  quickly.  "  I  tell  you,  you'll 
have  an  awful  time  if  you  stay  with  Aunt  Ra- 
chel. You  see  when  I  stayed  with  her,  Carl 
promised  me — " 

She  stopped  short — looked  up — then  medita- 
tively down  at  her  plate  a  moment,  and  looking 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  119 

eagerly  up  again,  her  shining  blue  eyes  flashing 
with  a  new  light. 

' '  Oh,  Mamma,  Carl  has  forgotten  his  promise. 
He  told  me  before  he  went  away,  if  I  would  be 
a  good  little  girl  and  stay  with  Aunt  Rachel  till 
you  came  back  from  New  York,  he  would  send 
me  something  real  nice  by  Uncle  Ralph ;  some- 
thing that  I  wanted  ever  so  much,  and  now  he 
has  forgotten — " 

' '  Where  shall  I  take  the  box  that  the  express 
wagon  has  just  delivered,  sir  ?  "  interrupted  Vir- 
gil, appearing  in  the  doorway,  and  addressing 
Dr.  Leslie. 

"  To  whom  is  the  box  addressed,  Virgil  ?  " 

"  To  Miss  Nellie  Grayson,  sir." 

"  Wooden  box,  is  it  ?  " 

''  Yes,  sir." 

"  You  may  take  it  round  to  the  rear  veranda," 
said  Dr.  Leslie,  and  he  glanced  at  Nellie,  smiling. 

Virgil  hesitated  a  moment,  made  a  low  salute, 
then  noiselessly  vanished. 

Meanwhile  Nellie's  eyelashes  had  crej^t  up, 
and  with  an  incredulous  stare,  she  looked  from 
her  uncle  to  her  mother  in  utter  dismay.  Then 
with  a  prolonged  gasp  of  "  0 — h,"'  she  drew  in 
her  breath  with  a  nervous  start,  sprang  from  her 
seat,  and  fled  from  the  room,  upsetting  her  chair 
with  a  loud  crash  in  her  hurried  flight. 

With  a  hammer  and  chisel  and  ringing  blows, 
Virgil  was  making  vigorous  efforts  to  remove 
the  securely  fastened  lid,  while  Nellie  impa- 
tiently pranced  and  tiptoed  all  around  the  box, 
every  now  and  again  urging  Virgil  to  hurry. 

"  bh,  see,  Mamma:  a  dear  little  saddle.  Isn't 
it  perfectly  lovely.  Uncle  Ralph  ?  I've  been 
wanting  one  so  long,    and  just  like   this  one. 


120  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Cousin  Ruth,  you  may  ride  on  it,  too :  Carl  said 
he  would  send  nie  something  I  wanted,  and  I'm 
so  glad  he  sent  me  this  little  saddle — the  dear, 
cute  little  thing." 

"  What  must  I  do  with  these.  Miss  Nellie?  " 
said  Virgil,  holding  up  a  blue-ribboned,  silver- 
mounted  bridle,  and  the  daintiest  riding-whip, 
with  a  blue  silk  tassel  dangling  from  the  pearl 
horse-head  handle. 

In  her  eagerness  to  get  at  the  saddle  she  had 
overlooked  these. 

' '  Oh,  they  go  with  the  saddle,  of  course, " '  she 
said,  hastily  taking  them  in  her  arms.  ''  Look, 
Mamma,  the  blue  reins  and  tassel  match  the 
blue  plush  seat  on  the  saddle.  Don't  you  think 
they  are  just  lovely,  Aunt  Milly?''  she  cried, 
struggling  across  the  porch  with  the  saddle  in 
her  arms,  the  stirrup  clinking  against  the  floor 
at  every  step,  and  then  piled  the  whole  in  Aunt 
Milly's  lap,  where  she  sat  on  the  door-step. 

Meanwhile  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Ruth  had  re- 
turned to  the  sitting-room,  and  ten  minutes  later 
Dr.  Leslie  had  ordered  his  horse  and  rode  away 
in  another  part  of  the  city  to  visit  his  patients, 
some  of  whom  had  recovered  during  his  absence, 
and  others  were  convalescent. 

He  had  an  extensive  practice,  and  a  large  part 
of  it  was  among  the  laboring  class,  whose  confi- 
dence he  heid.  and  whose  lives  it  was  his  chief 
aim  to  brighten.  Here,  he  had  a  broad  scope  for 
his  work.  One  needed  not  a  long  acquaintance 
with  him  before  perceiving  that  profound  senti- 
ment of  manly  honor,  that  reverence  for  all 
truth,  loftiness  and  purity,  which  made  him  es- 
sentially the  warm-hearted,  generous  and  sym.- 
pathetic  man  that  he  was. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  121 

It  was  half-past  five  o'clock  that  afternoon 
when  Julia  tapped  at  Ruth's  door  with  a  mes- 
sage from  the  ' '  Master  of  the  Manor. ' ' 

Euth  was  sitting  heside  the  window  writing 
when  she  came  in,  but  she  glanced  quickly  up 
with  a  look  of  pleased  expectation  in  her  face. 
She  had  not  forgotten  her  engagement  to  go 
driving  with  her  guardian,  and  she  was  just 
wondering  if  a  long  round  of  visits  to  his  patients 
had  not  forced  him  to  cancel  it;  now  it 
seemed  that  Julia  had  come  in  answer  to  her 
silent  thoughts.  She  could  not  help  smiling  into 
the  girl's  face  as  she  hesitated  to  make  known 
her  errand. 

"  Miss  Ruth,  Dr.  Leslie  wants  to  know  if  you 
will  be  ready  to  go  driving  with  him  at  six 
o'clock':'"  she  said,  briefly,  evidently  relieved 
that  she  had  got  it  out  at  last. 

' '  Oh,  certainly.  It  will  take  me  but  a  little 
while  to  get  ready. ' ' 

Ruth  carefuUy  arranged  her  beautiful  hair, 
exchanged  the  soft,  silky  dress  she  had  on  for  a 
little  heavier  one,  and  putting  on  her  hat  and 
gloves  descended  to  the  sitting-room.  She  glanced 
expectantly  around  as  she  entered,  but  it  was 
empty.  Then  she  walked  to  the  window  and 
just"  then  saw  her  guardian  coming  up  the  walk, 
fanning  himself  with  his  hat.  A  slight  rain  had 
faUen  an  hour  before,  but  now  the  sun  had  come 
out  brightly,  sparkling  the  emerald  lawn  and 
trees  and  making  that  iridescent  beauty  of  dis- 
tance and  atmosphere  which  was  enchanting. 

"  We  shall  have  a  pleasant  afternoon  for  our 
drive,"  said  Dr.  Leslie,  as  he  entered  the  room 
through  the  open  window.  "  I  was  afraid  this 
morning  that  we  should  find  the  dust  as  well  as 

9 


122  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

the  heat  uncomfortably  disagreeable;  but  since 
the  rain  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  desired. ' ' 

"  Yes,  it  seems  delightful  since  the  shower." 
Then  after  a  pause,  she  said,  ' '  Dr.  Leslie,  I  hope 
I'm  not  interfering  with  any  of  your  professional 
arrangements,  by  accepting  your  kind  offer  to 
take  me  driving  this  afternoon. ' ' 

""Oh.  no,  child;  I  have  no  special  calls  for  the 
rest  of  the  day,  and  this  is  a  recreation  which  I 
hope  we  shall  boch  enjoy." 

Ruth  smiled  at  his  fatherly  way  of  addressing 
her,  and  which  he  did  apparently  with  perfect 
unconsciousness. 

She  walked  up  to  him  directly,  and  in  her 
naive,  confiding  way,  held  out  her  hands  to  him. 
with  a  gesture  which  no  one  could  have  resisted. 
He  enclosed  them  in  a  cordial  clasp. 

"  Dr.  Leslie,  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you." 
she  said,  with  that  beautiful  sjnile  peculiar  to 
her,  while  her  srweet  lips  trembled.  "  WiU  you 
grant  it  ?  " 

For  the  moment  he  seemed  to  forget  every- 
thing, save  the  extraordinary  spell  of  her  peer- 
less beauty;  yet  instinctively  he  felt  that  she 
would  make  no  request  that  was  indiscreet  or 
unreasonable,  and  so  he  might  safely  promise. 
"  Yes,  certainly  I  will;  I  am  altogether  at  your 
service,"  he  answered,  smiling  down  into  the 
lovely  eyes,  while  his  own  softened  and  grew 
very  tender,  and  a  deep,  yearning  passion,  which 
he  was  powerless  to  master,  suffused  every  fea- 
ture. Every  word  she  spoke  was  like  an  electric 
touch  upon  his  heart. 

"  Well.  I  want  you  to  call  me  Ruth,  and  treat 
me  in  many  respects  as  you  do  Nellie.  Papa  used 
to  call  me  Little  Ruth — he  rarely  called  me  any- 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  123 

thing  else ;  and,  somehow,  I  do  not  know  why, 
but  I  cannot  bear  for  you  to  call  me  Miss  Ruth." 

She  withdrew  her  hands  from  his  and  glanced 
up  shyly  at  him  from  under  her  long,  dark  lashes. 
All  at  once  it  occurred  to  her  that  perhaps  she 
had  acted  too  boldly  and  presumptuously  in  tak- 
ing this  step;  but  the  bright  smile  that  over- 
spread her  guardian's  face  reassured  her. 

"  Well,  Ruth,  it  shall  be  just  as  you  wish;  and 
now  if  I  reprove  and  scold  you  sometimes  as  I  do 
Nelhe,  you  promise  that  you'll  not  feel  that  I'm 
assuming  undue  authority,  and  I  shall  not  be 
called  upon  to  make  amends?"  He  had  pur- 
posely adopted  a  humorous  tone,  though  it  was 
full  of  sweetness  and  affection. 

''  Yes,  indeed,  I'll  promise;  but  I  shall  try  to 
be  very  patient  and  obedient,  so  you'll  have  no 
cause  to  scold  me."  Then  she  asked,  glancing 
toward  the  clock,  ''  But  isn't  it  time  we  were 
going?" 

Dr.  Leslie  took  out  his  watch,  compared  its 
time  with  the  clock.  "Six  o'clock, "  he  said, 
with  apparent  surprise ;  ' '  yes,  we  would  better 
go."' 

On  the  veranda,  as  they  came  out,  they  en- 
countered Mrs.  Grayson,  holding  in  her  hand  a 
shallow  tray-like  basket  of  freshly  cut  roses, 
with  which  she  was  going  to  dress  the  vases. 

''  Wouldn't  you  better  take  a  light  wrap,  dear  ? 
It  may  be  cooler  when  you  return,"  she  said. 

"  I  do  not  think  I  shall  need  it.  My  dress  is 
sufficiently  warm,  as  I  put  on  a  thick  one." 

Mrs.  Grayson  selected  several  of  her  choicest 
rose-buds,  and  shaking  the  rain-drops  off  of  them, 
handed  them  to  Ruth. 

"  Take  these,  dear.  They  hava  a  delicious  odor. 


124  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Now,  I'll  not  detain  you  any  longer.   I  hope  you 
will  enjoy  your  ride — good-bye."' 

The  pony  phaeton  w^as  already  at  the  door.  Dr. 
Leslie  helped  Ruth  in;  and  when  she  had  taken 
her  seat,  he  leaned  over  and  tucked  the  pretty 
afghan,  embroidered  in  yellow  daisies,  and  then 
getting  in  himself,  turned  the  vehicle  skilfully 
around  the  narrow  curve,  and  drove  briskly  off 
down  the  broad,  shaded  street  in  the  direction  of 
the  famous  old  Moravian  town. 

For  a  few  seconds  Mrs.  Grayson  stood  gazing 
reflectively  after  the  departing  carriage,  and  the 
next  moment  her  mental  vision  took  the  form  of 
a  vivid  reminiscence,  and  strangely  conflicting- 
things.  If  Ralph  had  been  other  than  he  were, 
she  might  have  taken  this  occasion  to  exalt  her 
own  superior  foresight  in  prophesying  a  tenderer 
relationship,  at  some  future  day,  than  mere 
friendly  regard,  between  her  generous,  noble- 
hearted  brother  and  his  beautiful  ward  with  all 
her  unaffected,  delightfully  womanly  ways. 

But  Mrs.  Grayson  was  one  who  did  not  jump 
at  conclusions,  and  declined  to  read  between  the 
lines,  especially  in  this  instance.  She  was  con- 
tent to  w^ait  whatever  the  future  might  unfold. 
Then  her  eyes  suddenly  became  infinitely  soft 
and  tender  in  response  to  some  emotions  that 
moved  her  soul,  and  she  turned  and  walked 
slowly  into  the  house. 


T\   THE   NEAV    ELDORADO.  1:^5 


CH.4PTER  X. 

Two  or  three  squares  were  rapidly  passed,  and 
then  Dr.  Leslie  checked  his  horse  to  a  slower 
pace.  "  If  we  travel  at  this  rate,"  he  said,  "  I 
shall  Dot  be  able  to  point  out  to  you  some  of  the 
places  of  interest  I  wish  to  show  you.  There  are 
quite  a  number  of  things  worth  your  while  to 
see.  and  which  I  think  will  interest  you. ' ' 

A  short  distance  brought  them  opposite  a 
handsome  brick  church,  with  a  tall  metal-crested 
steeple  and  stained  Gothic  windo\\s.  The  space 
in  front  was  trimly  laid  off  in  closely  shaven 
grass  plats  and  circling  walks,  reached  from  the 
smoothly  paved  street  by  a  short  flight  of  granite 
steps  on  either  side  and  in  the  centre  of  the 
square  space. 

"  That  is  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  not 
long  ago  completed,  and  the  second  one  ever 
built  in  this  county.  The  old  one  that  was  re 
moved  to  make  place  for  this  was  the  first  one." 
His  eyes  were  traveling  over  the  building,  when 
Ruth  asked,  because  she  wished  to  say  some- 
thing, ' '  Who  is  its  present  pastor '? ' ' 

"  Mr.  Darcy.  But  it  is  said  that  he  expects  to 
resign  this  charge  before  very  long  to  accept  an- 
other further  south.  He  has  done  very  much 
toward  building  up  the  church  since  he  has  been 
here,  and  his  congregation,  and  in  fact  everyone 
who  knows  him,  will  part  from  him  with  sincere 
regret.  He  and  his  family  occupy  the  little 
manse  on  the  left  of  the  church — just  there." 
He  inclined  his  head  in  the  direction  of  the 
house.  Ruth  glanced  at  the  two-storied  brown 
cottage,  scanning  it  steadily  as  they  drove  past, 


126  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES ;    OR, 

then  looked  down  the  street  along  which  they 
were  leisurely  diiving. 

The  houses  on  either  side  were  mostly  modern 
structures,  with  an  occasional  old  landmark  sand- 
wiched between  them,  and  many  were  very 
handsome.  Those  on  the  right  side  of  the  street 
especially  had  spacious,  well-kept  lawns  in  front, 
tastily  arranged  in  pretty  shrubbery  ai-d  flowers, 
while  over  a  number  of  the  dooways  and  front- 
ages ran  graceful  vines,  the  foliage  of  which 
jealously  screened  from  the  summer  sun  rich 
clusters  of  fragrant  blossoms. 

A  little  further  down  they  passed  into  the  old 
Moravian  town,  where  the  street  began  to  slope 
gently  downward,  and  at  the  foot  of  which  stood 
a  large  brick  building  that  in  the  perspective 
seemed  to  bar  their  further  progress. 

The  sidewalks  were  notably  clean,  and  here 
and  there  Vv^ell  shaded,  and  now  the  charm  of 
the  ancient  street  began  to  appear. 

At  the  end  of  it,  on  the  left,  was  a  pretty  two- 
storied  stuccoed  residence  with  hooded  windows 
and  cornices  of  brown  pilasters.  Dr.  Leslie  was 
driving  past  it  very  slowly,  so  that  Ruth  might 
see  the  beauty  of  the  grounds.  A  beautiful 
lawn  fell  gently  downward,  through  which  ran 
a  winding  graveled  driveway,  exquisitely  shaded 
by  low-branched  elms,  white  pine  and  spruce, 
while  two  magnificent  oaks  on  either  side  of  the 
house  in  front  cast  their  dense  shade  over  a  vast 
breadth  of  the  dark  green  space.  Rustic  seats 
of  metal  braced  their  high  backs  against  the 
lichened  trunks  of  the  trees,  and  large  white 
urns,  filled  with  growing  plants,  stood  near  the 
steeply  terraced  entrance  in  front,  while  half 
way  down  the  green  expanse  a  gracefully  posed 


IX   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  127 

marble  figure,  life-size  and  representing  "  Si- 
lence, ' '  lent  additional  and  suggestive  grace  to 
the  scene. 

A  low  fence,  sectioning  off  the  lawn  from  a 
disused  play-ground  now  given  over  to  beautiful 
decay,  and  running  parallel  with  it,  was  en- 
tirely tapestried  with  English  honeysuckle  in 
the  most  picturesque  profusion. 

Presently  Ruth  caught  a  glimpse  of  some- 
thing white  and  silvery  moving  about  on  the 
green  lawn.  It  was  a  pair  of  snow-white  pig- 
eons, that  strutted  cooing  in  the  pensive  silence, 
but  suddenly  at  some  disturbing  noise  flew  up 
and  alighted  on  the  shoulder  of  the  silent  figure, 
about  which  a  shaft  of  sunlight  fell,  bringing  it 
into  bold  relief  amidst  the  dreamy  twilight 
which  invaded  the  beautiful  place  even  at  this 
hour. 

As  they  turned  into  another  street  and  came 
opposite  some  large  brick  buildings  which  had 
about  them  the  air  and  sound  of  busy  life,  Dr. 
Leslie  said: 

"Here  are  the  Arista  Cotton  Mill  and  the  Wa- 
chovia Flouring  Mills,  and  from  the  high  grade 
of  goods  which  is  made  at  these  places  the  firm 
and  mills  have  such  a  reputation  that  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  fill  the  numerous  orders  which 
they  receive  from  all  sections  of  the  country. 
The  Arista  Cotton  Mill  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  State,  and  contains  about  five  thousand  one 
hundred  and  eighty-four  spindles  and  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  looms,  and  turns  out  ginghams, 
plaid,  white  and  colored  shirting  of  the  very 
best  grade." 

At  that  moment  a  whiff  of  wind  bore  to  them 
a  pungent  odor,  which  though  familiar,  Ruth 
did  not  at  first  recognize. 


128  ■       UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"It  is  gas, ' '  said  Dr.  Leslie,  in  answer  to 
Ruth's  puzzled  look;  ''and  here  are  the  gas 
works  to  the  left,  which  belong  to  the  owners 
of  the  Mills — and  besides  they  have  their  owm 
fire-pump  and  waterworks.  The  Mills  are 
thickly  covered  with  water-pipes  and  automatic 
sprinklers.  In  fact,  their  Mills  and  Woollen 
Factory  are  suppUed  with  all  kinds  of  modern 
machinery  and  conveniences;  with  ample  capi- 
tal to  carry  on  their  business,  of  course  there  is 
no  telling  what  results  they  will  yet  achieve. 
And  over  there,  beyond  the  gasworks,"'  Dr. 
Leslie  went  on,  "  are  the  Woollen  Mills  that 
turn  out  a  certain  high  grade  of  jeans  that  is 
almost  world  renowned  for  its  durability  and 
excellent  finish. ' '  Ruth  looked  at  him,  perhaps 
a  little  increduously,  to  which  Dr.  Leslie  said, 
smiling ; 

"Yes,  it  may  seem  a  little  strange  to  you  that 
such  things  should  exist  right  here,  but  these 
good  people  never  make  any  '  blow  ' — if  I  may 
colloquially  express  it — about  anything  they 
have  or  undertake:  one  has  to  find  out  their 
good  works  from  others.  The  firm  ship  many 
of  their  goods  to  China,  Japan  and  other  foreign 
countries — though  they  are  hardly  able  to  suj)ply 
the  immense  home  consumption." 

This  idea  was  amazing  to  Ruth,  as  Dr. 
Leslie  could  see  from  her  countenance,  and  pres- 
ently she  acknowledged  as  much. 

"  This  firm  was  the  first  to  introduce  electric 
lights  into  their  mills,"  he  continued;  "and 
you  should  see  the  cotton  factory  especially 
when  lighted  up  at  night.  It  makes  a  very 
brilliant  sight." 

I  can  imagine  so, ' '   said  Ruth.     "It  is  so 


a 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  1"2!> 

large  and  has  so  many  windows.  I  think  it 
must  be  very  trying  to  work  all  day  amidst  the 
incessant  whirl  of  the  machinery  and  breathe  the 
lint  and  oil-tainted  atmosphere,  as  those  factory 
girls  do." 

"  Yes.  as  a  rule,  I  believe  the  condition  of  the 
factory  girl  is  a  pitiful  one,''  said  Dr.  Leslie; 
' '  but  here,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  is  an  excep- 
tion to  the  general  rule.  The  best  and  wisest 
efforts  are  put  forth  by  the  employers  to  brighten 
and  make  cheerful  the  busy  lives  of  these  girls. 
Now,  over  there."  he  added,  pointing  his 
whip  to  a  row  of  brick  cottages,  "  are  the  houses 
occupied  by  those  who  work  in  these  factories. 
They  pay  a  small  rent  for  them,  and  the  land- 
lords keep  them  in  good  repair.  There  are 
others,  on  another  street,  which  you  cannot  see 
from  here,  but  they  are  equally  as  neat  and  com- 
fortable." 

Ruth  turned  and  looked  at  him,  just  then, 
with  a  curious  little  smile  which  he  could  not 
interpret.  "  Excuse  me,  but  isn't  it  somewhere 
in  this  neighborhood  that  you  promised  to  show 
me  the  first  building  which  was  erected  in  this 
old  town — or  have  we  passed  it  ?  " 

"  No,  we  have  not.  i  am  glad  you  reminded 
me  of  it,  since  I  had  quite  forgotten  to  point  it 
out  to  you.  It  is  over  there,  to  the  right,  and 
quite  hidden  under  those  clumps  of  trees,"  he 
said,  indicating  the  place  with  his  whip. 

"  It  was  built  by  Gottfried  Aust  in  1772,  and 
many  years  used  for  a  pottery.  All  kinds  of 
articles  for  domestic  use,  tiles  for  covering- 
houses,  tile  stoves,  and  many  ornamental  ar- 
ticles were  once  manufactured  there.  Clay  pipes 
are  still  made  there.     As  many  as  fifteen  hun- 


130  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

dred  are  made  a  day,  and  shipped  North  as  far 
as  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia,  and  as  far  South 
as  Mobile,  Alabama." 

"From  its  general  appearance,  I  am  sure  no 
one  would  be  inclined  to  dispute  the  statement 
that  it  is  the  oldest  house  in  the  place, ' '  said 
Ruth,  looking  curiously  at  the  quaint  old  build- 
ing. 

Seeing  that  Ruth  was  interested  in  this  an- 
cient landmark,  he  said : 

"  There  is  an  old  house  on  Buffalo  Creek,  in 
this  county,  which  is  probably  the  oldest  in  the 
State.  It  was  built  before  the  Revolutionary 
War,  but  the  exact  year  of  its  building  is  not 
known.  It  is  a  log  house,  about  eighteen  by 
twenty  feet  in  size,  and  is  still  in  a  good  state 
of  preservation.  It  was  built  by  a  man  who 
had  a  narrow  escape  from  the  Indians.  It  seems 
that  his  father's  house  was  attacked  one  night 
by  the  Indians,  but  by  some  strategem  he  man- 
aged to  escape  with  his  wife  and  three  children 
to  the  woods.  Here  he  concealed  one  of  the 
boys  in  a  hollow  log,  while  he  and  his  wife  and 
other  two  children  fled  to  a  fort  which  then 
stood  on  or  near  what  is  the  site  of  Old  Town. 
The  boy  left  concealed  in  the  log  was  rescued, 
and  is  said  to  have  been  the  one  who  built  the 
house.  He  owned  an  immense  area  of  land, 
and  tradition  has  it  that  he  once  gave  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  near  Walnut  Cove  for  a  sin- 
gle-barreled shot-gun.  In  those  times  it  seems 
that  guns  were  more  valuable  than  land,"  he 
said,  smiling. 

"  Is  the  old  fort  you  alluded  to  at  Old  Town 
still  standing  V"  asked  Ruth.  "•  If  it  is,  I  should 
like  very  much  to  visit  it  some  day. ' ' 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  131 

' '  No,  it  was  torn  down  about  eighteen  years 
ago,  and  some  of  the  best  timbers  brought  here 
and  used  in  erecting  the  residence  of  a  gentle- 
man in  another  part  of  the  city.  The  beams 
used  for  this  purpose  are  sweetgum  and  oak  and 
are  of  different  sizes.  There  are  a  quantity  of 
large,  rude  hand- wrought  nails  in  the  frames 
used  in  the  construction  of  this  residence—nails 
made  by  the  early  Moravian  settlers,  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  years  ago.  Now,  as  there 
is  no  chance  of  your  seeing  the  old  fort  as  it 
stood,  the  next  best  thing,  I  would  suggest,  is 
for  you  to  see  some  of  its  historic  timbers  in 
Mr  Worth's  residence.  I  know  Mr.  Worth  well. 
He  is  a  prosperous  tobacconist  in  our  city,  and 
is  a  high-toned,  pubhc-spirited,  Christian  gentle- 
man. I  am  sure  he  will  take  great  pleasure  in 
showing  you  these  relics  or  timbers  from  the  old 
Indian  fort." 

' '  I  shall  be  glad  to  avail  myself  of  your  sug- 
gestion," said  Ruth. 

Dr.  Leshe  touched  up  Hector,  and  presently 
they  turned  into  the  main  thoroughfare  and 
drove  down  the  long  street,  shaded  by  stately 
ancient  elms.  Here  all  was  so  perfectly  peace- 
ful and  quiet,  that  Ruth  was  penetrated  by  the 
spell  of  this  quaint  and  beautiful  place.  It  was 
such  a  pretty  illusion  of  hers  to  think  that  they 
were  driving  into  a  veritable  land  of  rest. 
Every  sense  seemed  in  perfect  harmony  with 
her  archaic  surroundings,  and  somehow  a  sweet 
peace  stole  into  her  heart,  and  her  face  melted 
in  an  unconscious  smile.  She  wondered  if  her 
guardian  shared  her  peculiar  feelings.  At  that 
moment  he  glanced  at  her  flushed  face,  and  was 
pleased  to  see  the  dream-like  look  of  happiness 


132  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

that  had  come  into  her  grave,  sad  eyes,  but  he 
felt  no  inclination  to  interrupt  her  sweet  revery. 

As  they  reached  the  Square,  which  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  cordon  of  rugged  elms,  intermin- 
gled with  magniticent,  silvery  sycamores,  the 
sun  was  faUing  aslant  to  the  west,  but  through 
the  interweaving  boughs  spears  of  sunlight  fil- 
tered down,  making  exquisite  lace-work  of  shade 
on  the  soft  green  turf.  In  the  center  was  a 
fountain,  which  was  idle  now,  but  the  bronze 
storks  with  drooping  heads  seemed  to  keep  per- 
petual vigil  within  the  circular  basin  of  tranquil 
water,  and  suggestively  hold  themselves  in  read- 
iness for  duty  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  radi- 
ating aisles  intersecting  the  Square  were  filled 
with  a  gleaming  whiteness,  dappled  here  and 
there  with  little  flickering  shadows. 

On  the  right,  facing  the  Square,  was  the 
Widows'  House,  the  first  substantial  brick  build- 
ing erected  in  the  town,  and  afterwards  enlarged 
with  the  addition  of  a  wooden  structure.  It  had 
been  formerly  used  as  a  Brothers'  House.  These 
facts  Dr.  Leslie  briefly  rceounted  to  Euth  as 
they  drove  slowly  down  the  street. 

''It  is  said  that  the  Widows'  House  had  its 
ghostly  visitant. "  he  continued  with  a  smile, 
"as  most  old  houses  are  said  to  have,  but  of 
course  none  of  the  present  inhabitants  have  ever 
seen  his  ghostship,  and  even  refuse  to  believe 
the  superstition;  but  still  they  like  to  teU  the 
story  to  the  curious  who  are  fond  of  turning 
over  the  dust  of  years  and  peeping  into  past 
mysteries. ' ' 

' '  I  think  I  am  curious  enough  to  want  to  hear 
it.  too,"  said  Ruth,  and  she  raised  her  sweet 
questioning  eyes  to  his  face. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  133 


"  Then  I  will  tell  you, "  he  said.  "  That  is,  as 
much  as  I  know  of  it.  The  legend  of  '  The  Lit- 
tle Red  Man, '  as  it  is  called,  was  written  up  for 
the  Century  several  years  ago,  and  the  author's 
mother  then  occupied  rooms  at  the  Widows' 
Hoase.  The  story  goes  that  a  workman,  while 
excavating  for  its  cellar,  was  killed  by  a  rock 
crushing  out  his  life.  At  the  time  he  was  at- 
tired in  a  red  shirt  and  skull  cap,  and  one  of  the 
inmates  of  the  building  long  years  afterwards 
declared  she  met  him  on  the  staircase,  sure.*' 

'*  Sure  '?  "  repeated  Ruth,  so  earnestly  that  Dr. 
Leslie  laughed. 

"  So  says  the  legend,""  he  said.  "  But  we'll 
drive  further  down  to  the  old  hotel,  or  '  tavern,' 
as  it  was  familiarly  termed  long  years  ago ;  and 
where,  too,  a  veritable  ghost  is  said  to  have 
made  its  appearance  more  than  half  a  century 
past;  and  besides,  it  is  a  place  of  great  interest 
to  strangers  by  virtue  of  the  tragedies  that  have 
occurred  beneath  its  roof;  and  the  fact  that 
there  is  a  room  held  sacred  in  the  old  building 
where  George  Washington  slept  during  his  visit 
here  in  May,  1791.  It  was  the  social  center  of 
the  town  then,  and  the  customary  resort  of  the 
burghers,  who  regularly  congregated  about  the 
large  fireplace  of  the  public  room  in  winter,  or 
on  the  long  veranda  in  summer,  to  discuss  the 
affairs  of  the  place,  and  general  news,  as  they 
smoked.  The  first  inn,  which  occupied  the  same 
site,  was  burned  in  1784;  and  the  present  hotel 
was  built  the  same  year.  It  was  leased  to  parties 
who  were  required  to  sign  a  written  document 
pledging  themselves  '  to  be  agreeable  and  poUte 
to  all  strangers,  to  keep  an  entirely  clean  and  in- 
viting house   of   entertainment,    to    watch   the 


134  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

domestics  carefully  that  they  may  be  polite  and 
obliging  and  not  demand  an  extra  gratuity,  and 
in  case  they  were  found  guilty  of  asking  for 
money,  to  dismiss  them  without  ceremony.' 
They  were  also  required  '  not  to  allow  gamb- 
ling, fighting,  swearing,  immoral  conduct  or  the 
assembling  of  minors  on  Sunday,  or  to  permit  the 
use  of  spirituous  liquors  to  persons  intoxicated 
or  any  excess  of  drinking  on  the  premises.' 
After  the  Academy  became  a  success,  examina- 
tion day  was  the  great  event  of  the  year.  As 
there  were  no  railway  facilities,  the  wealthy 
Southern  planters  came  in  elegant  coaches  with 
a  train  of  colored  servants  and  fine  horses — the 
like  01  which  has  never  been  seen  since  the  Civil 
War.  The  large  hotel  yard  would  be  literally 
packed  with  carriages.  Indeed,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  describe  those  times  when  Southern 
aristocracy  was  at  its  zenith,  and  nowhere  else 
at  that  time  could  be  found  so  great  a  collection 
of  wealth,  beauty,  all  the  courtly  graces  and 
chivalric  bearing  which  characterized  South- 
erners in  ante  bellum  days. ' ' 

"  It  seems  a  pity  that  the  glory  of  those  old 
days  has  departed, "' said  Euth.  "I  imagine  it 
would  be  delightful  to  recall  them.  But  really 
it  sounds  more  like  some  pretty  fairy  story  or 
romance  than  a  reality. 

"  No,  it  is  all  true,"  said  Dr.  Leslie;  and  just 
then  they  drew  up  in  front  of  the  old  tavern, 
which,  v^ith  its  four  quaint  buildings,  presented 
a  patch  of  warm  coloi*  in  the  fading  sunshine. 
Dr.  Leslie  and  Ruth  dismounted,  and  after  ob- 
taining permission  from  one  of  the  tenants, 
who  occupied  the  George  Washington  room,  they 
began  to  explore  the  rambling  halls  and  cham- 
bers. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  135 

Dr.  Leslie  called  Ruth's  attention  particularly 
to  the  red  bricks  of  immense  size;  the  walls  as 
thick  as  a  feudal  castle;  the  queer,  saddle  roof 
with  dormer  windows ;  the  chimneys  with  their 
tall  mantel  shelves,  and  the  immense  fireplaces 
and  the  quaint  kitchen  paved  with  blocks  of 
stone. 

The  voluble  tenant  who  conducted  them  over 
the  biiilding  seemed  to  take  great  pride  in  ex- 
hibiting the  celebrated  apartment  which  he  oc- 
cupied— the  George  Washington  room — and  giv- 
ing bits  of  its  history,  as  he  did  to  the  hundreds 
of  curious  visitors.  It  was  in  the  main  building, 
on  the  second  floor,  and  opened  on  a  large  square 
hall  which  led  out  to  the  long  veranda  in  front. 
It  was  about  eighteen  feet  square,  ^^'ith  low 
pitched  ceiling  and  the  floor  made  of  thick  oak 
planks,  twenty  inches  wide,  hewn  from  the 
forest  trees  and  shck  with  the  tread  of  many 
feet.  The  walls  in  the  room  were  plastered  and 
kept  clean  by  whitewash.  The  small  windows, 
four  in  number,  were  deep  embrasures,  and 
about  four  feet  from  the  floor.  The  large  fire- 
place across  the  corner  of  the  room  had  been  re- 
duced in  size,  but  the  tall  mantel  shelf  remained 
as  it  was  originally  fashioned.  The  two  doors, 
many-panelled,  both  opened  on  the  same  hall, 
one  of  which,  however,  was  temporarily  closed 
with  curtains. 

Ruth  lingered  here,  quite  reluctant  to  leave, 
asking  the  readily  responsive  tenant  many  ques- 
tions about  the  room  which  had  been  occupied 
one  hundred  years  ago  by  the  first  President  of 
the  United  States.  She  was  curious,  too,  to  see 
the  quaint,  old-fashioned  spinnet  or  piano,  the 
first   one  ever    brought   to   town   and   the   one 


136  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

which  furnished  music  at  the  President's  recep- 
tion given  iiim  here.  But  the  man  informed 
her  that  it  was  in  the  Museum  near  by,  with 
some  other  fragmentary  but  treasured  rehcs 
associated  with  that  memorable  event,  and  by 
applying  to  the  person  in  charge  she  would  have 
no  difficulty  in  gaining  admittance. 

"There  is  a  movement  on  foot,"  said  Dr. 
Leslie  to  Ruth,  ' '  looking  to  the  purchase  of  this 
old  hotel,  tear  away  the  present  hotel  building 
with  the  exception  of  the  original  structure,  pre- 
serve the  Washington  apartment  intact,  fit  up 
other  portions  for  the  use  of  relics,  and  make  a 
local  museum  of  it.  I  think  it  is  a  good  idea, 
and  I  hope  to  see  it  carried  out.'' 

' '  Yes,  I  am  sure  it  is, ' '  said  Ruth,  as  they 
passed  out  on  the  veranda.  "  But  somehow  I 
can't  help  wishing  that  this  old  tavern  with  all 
its  antiquity  and  associations  could  be  restored 
to  its  former  grandeur.  Why  can't  it  be,  I  won- 
der ?  ' '  persisted  Ruth,  half  sadly. 

"Oh,  that  wouldn't  do  at  all,"  laughed  Dr. 
Leslie.  ' '  If  we  were  to  spend  all  our  time  re- 
storing the  crumbling  ruins  of  ^ur  ancestors, 
why,  I  fear,  we  should  never  make  any  progress 
whatever;  and  besides  all  lovers  of  antiquity 
and  relic  hunters  would  be  fettered  and  man- 
acled, so  to  speak,  and  be  deprived  of  an  oppor- 
tunity to  make  investigations.  Upon  the  whole, 
I  believe  that  I  prefer  that  things  should  remain 
as  they  are.  But  let  us  walk  to  the  other  end 
of  the  veranda,"  he  went  on  in  the  same  light 
tone,  "  and  I  vdll  tell  you  some  other  interest- 
ing facts  connected  with  this  old  tavern,  but  you 
must  not  allow  it  to  affect  you  morbidly,"  he 
said  looking  at  her,  smiling. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  137 


a 


Oh,  no;  but — "  she  hesitated;  "yes,  I  will 
be  glad  to  hear  it,"  she  returned,  recovering 
something  of  her  cheerfulness.  "  I  should  like 
to  hear  all  about  it."  They  sauntered  leisurely 
the  length  of  the  long  veranda. 

' '  It  was  in  this  hotel  that  Peter  Ney,  supposed 
by  many  to  have  been  Napoleon's  Marshal  Ney 
of  Prance,  used  to  come,  while  he  resided  in 
Davie  County  in  1 840  or  '41,  and  attracted  crowds 
who  stared  in  open-mouthed  wonder  at  his 
thrilling  feats  of  sword  play  and  other  martial 
exercises.  Then  there  was  an  European  chemist 
who  drifted  here  and  took  up  his  abode  at  this 
bote],  bought  property,  planted  an  orchard  and 
vineyard,  and  made  himself  at  home  among  the 
people — though  reticent  about  his  former  his- 
tory. One  evening,  in  1857^ — I  do  not  remem- 
ber the  month — while  making  some  chemical 
experiments,  a  terrific  explosion  occurred  in  his 
room,  which  tore  through  the  walls,  shattered 
the  windows,  flung  the  piano  in  the  adjoining- 
parlor  across  the  room,  and  killed  the  experi- 
menteT-,  mangling  him  terribly.  Tradition  says 
that  his  burial  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening, 
coupled  with  the  circumstances,  was  very  im- 
pressive." 

Ruth  glanced  meditatively  round. 

"  Shall  I  go  on  ?  "  Dr.  Leslie  asked,  laughing. 

"Oh,  yes,  certainly,"  she  said  eagerly.  "I 
am  not  at  all  nervous." 

"  Half  a  century  ago,  so  tradition  runs  on,  a 
gentleman  came  to  this  hotel  and  registered  un- 
der an  assumed  name.  The  proprietor  was  kind 
and  pleasant.  The  gentleman  was  sick,  and  in 
a  day  or  so  was  found  to  be  afflicted  with  small- 
pox, and  so  was  removed  to  a  house  on  the  edge 

10 


138  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

of  town  and  a  nurse  provided.  He  grew  rapidly 
worse,  and  when  he  found  he  must  die,  he  sent 
for  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel,  who,  unfortu- 
nately, did  not  reach  him  before  he  died.  The 
old  man  was  greatly  troubled,  and  wondered  for 
days  who  his  strange  guest  was  aad  whence  he 
came.  Sometime  afterward  one  of  the  female 
servants  complained  that  while  cleaning  the 
room  the  sick  man  had  occupied  at  the  hotel,  his 
face  had  appeared  to  her.  The  proprietor 
scolded  her  for  such  superstition :  but  after  re- 
peated shrieks  of  fear  and  declarations  that  he 
was  really  present,  the  proprietor  decided  to  in- 
vestigate for  himself.  The  result  was  that  the 
uncanny  visitor  met  him  upon  the  threshold  of 
the  room,  told  his  real  name  and  place  of  resi- 
dence and  desired  that  his  wife  should  be  ap- 
prised of  his  death,  then  disappeared  and  has 
never  been  seen  since.  The  grave  old  Moravian, 
pale  and  collected,  would  not  tell  his  strange  ex- 
perience, but  wrote  to  the  address  named,  re- 
ceived a  reply  from  the  wife  and  sent  all  his 
effects  home.  It  is  said  that  the  old  gentleman 
never  liked  to  talk  about  the  incident,  which  he 
declared  to  be  literally  true. ' ' 

"How  ghostly!"  said  Euth.  "But  I  hope 
you  will  not  blame  my  frankness  in  telling  you 
that  I  believe  the  whole  thing  was  a  piece  of 
gross  fabrication  of  the  servant ;  or  perhaps  she 
dreamed  it,  and  it  seemed  so  realistic  that  she 
believed  it  herself,  and  so  told  it  for  a  fact," 
Ruth  added,  with  such  demonstration  of  earnest- 
ness that  Dr.  Leslie  laughed  heartily. 

"  Oh,  no,  I  shall  not  quarrel  with  you  for  your 
candor,"  he  said.  "  Undoubtedly  the  real  facts 
have  been  vividly  colored,  as  such  things  gen- 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  139 

erally  are  after  the  lapse  of  so  long  a  time  and 
with  repeated  repetition,  too.  Now,  I  will  tell 
you  one  other  little  incident,  and  then  we'll  go." 
He  took  out  his  watch.  "  Ah,  it  is  time  we  are 
going  now.  However,  I  can  tell  you  as  we  go 
out.  But  come  with  me.  please,  to  this  part  of 
the  veranda,  and  I  will  show  you  the  window 
in  the  room  where,  it  is  said,  a  man  from  a  dis- 
tance, while  sick  and  suffering  from  some  tem- 
porary mania,  or  by  design,  during  the  absence 
of  his  attendant,  threw  himself  from  and  was 
instantly  killed.  You  see  it  is  some  distance  to 
the  ground,"  pointing  toward  the  place. 

Ruth  cast  a  doubtful  glance  up  at  the  win- 
dow, and  then  at  the  ground. 

As  they  turned  away  and  descended  the  steps. 
Dr.  Leslie  said,  *'  Well,  that's  ail,  and  winds,  up 
the  pitiful  list  of  tragedies  that  tell  of  the 
strange  complications  of  human  lives. ' ' 

Driving  back  in  the  direction  they  had  come, 
he  rounded  the  lower  side  of  the  Square,  past  a 
row  of  quaint  red  brick  houses,  with  tiled  roofs 
mellowed  with  age,  and  their  gabled  fronts 
bathed  in  the  rosy  glow  of  the  waning  sun;  past 
the  Sisters'  House,  another  old-fashioned  brick 
edifice,  covered  with  tiles,  some  of  which  were 
curled  up  in  brittle  decay,  while  here  and  there 
others  had  fallen  away  altogether;  on  past  the 
stately  silent  Academy,  over  one  side  of  which 
a  Virginia  creeper  ran  rampant  in  riotous  pro- 
fusion and  then  reached  out  to  embrace  the 
church  adjoining — the  church  whose  foundation 
dates  back  to  1765 — and  with  a  town  clock  in 
its  gable.  A  little  further  on  they  came  to  the 
head  of  the  avenue,  and  Dr.  Leslie  stopped  his 
horse.  The  iron  railing  across  the  entrance  way 
prevented  vehicles  from  driving  through. 


140  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  I  am  sorry  that  we'll  not  have  tmie  to  dis- 
mount and  go  through  the  Avenue  and  grave- 
yard too,"  he  said,  glancing  toward  the  sun. 
"  You  can  see  but  a  small  part  of  it  from  this 
point.  Some  day  you  and  Mrs.  GTrayson  can 
come  down  together  and  spend  an  hour  or  two 
here,  and  at  the  same  time  include  Woodland 
Cemetery,  which  occupies  that  elevation  across 
the  ravine  to  the  right."  He  indicated  the  direc- 
tion with  a  sweep  of  his  whip. 

They  lingered  a  few  minutes  longer  to  enjoy 
the  magical  effect  of  the  setting  sun  upon  the 
cedar  arched  walK  of  such  dazzling  whiteness, 
and  where  the  dusky  shadows  were  creeping 
and  fast  blotting  out  the  translucent  gold.  The 
effect  was  indescribable. 

"  There  seems  to  be  something  in  the  atmos- 
phere and  cloistered  stillness  of  this  place  that 
helps  me,"  said  Dr.  Leslie,  quietly,  as  he  turned 
his  horse's  head  toward  home. 

Ruth  made  no  direct  reply.  At  that  moment 
she  was  looking  up  at  a  large  square  mansion  of 
brick,  built  more  than  a  century  ago,  but  appar- 
ently as  substantial  as  of  old.  It  was  rigidly 
outlined  against  the  dark-blue  summer  sky, 
across  which  lazily  floated  white  billowy  clouds, 
ever  shifting  into  various  forms  as  they  ad- 
vanced towards  the  misty  horizon. 

"The  first  Moravian  Bishop's  house,"  ex- 
plained Dr.  Leslie,  as  he  musingly  followed  her 
upward  gaze.  "  and  it  still  retains  much  of  its 
local  celebrity  and  interest  for  strangers.  It  has 
been  modernized  a  httle,  interiorly,  yet  contains 
a  few  remnants  of  its  departing  glory.  In  the 
low-ceiled  dining-room  there  is  an  immense  fire- 
place with  a  queer  chimney-piece,  and  an  old 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  141 

fashioned  crane  that  still  swings  in  its  capacious 
jamhs.  I  don't  suppose  you  ever  saw  one,"  he 
said,  turning  to  her  smiling,  "  for  it  is  more  of 
a  novelty  than  our  grandmother's  flax-wheels, 
which  is  such  a  fashionable  fad  now-a-days. '' 

"  No,  I've  never  seen  a  crane — the  machine 
you  refer  to,"  said  Ruth,  "  but  I've  seen  one  or 
two  old-time  flax  -  wheels. "  Then  she  glanced 
about  her,  was  silent,  and  for  the  next  few  mo- 
ments surrendered  herself  to  the  charm  of  her 
surroundings. 

On  the  left  of  the  short  street  down  whicli 
they  drove,  they  passed  the  ruinous  traces  of  a 
greenhouse,  with  its  wrecked  machinery  and 
rank  growth  of  weeds,  flowers  and  vines  densely 
interwoven,  and  the  original  designs  of  the  flower 
beds  hopelessly  blotted  out.  From  out  the  tan- 
gled, fragrant  mass  came  the  pensive  chirp  of 
innumerable  crickets  and  other  insect  life. 

Adjoining  the  ruins  of  the  once  beautiful 
greenhouse  and  on  the  corner,  past  which  they 
now  turned  again  into  the  thoroughfare,  rose 
the  tall,  somber-looking  dwelling  where  the 
owner  of  the  ruined  gardens  formerly  lived.  He 
was  long  since  dead,  and  the  ancient  mansion 
wore  an  air  of  gloom  and  disoccupation.  How- 
ever, upon  the  stone  parapet  of  the  terraced 
steps  which  led  up  from  the  street  to  the  narrow 
courtyard  in  front,  the  couchant  bronze  lion, 
mastiff  and  greyhound  still  kept  silent  guard. 

On  that  side  of  the  building  running  along 
Main  Street,  the  lower  rooms,  which  were  for- 
merly used  as  stores  and  shops,  were  now 
securely  closed  and  shuttered,  except  the  upper 
end,  where  job  printing  was  being  done. 

Over  the  doorway  leading  to  a  hall  between 


142  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

these  shuttered  rooms,  was  the  name  of  the  late 
proprietor  in  large,  raised  gilt  letters. 

Dr.  Leslie  pointed  out  other  places  of  historic 
interest  to  Ruth  along  the  way,  all  of  which 
bore  the  solemn  impress  of  antiquity,  and  had 
an  air  of  indescribable  serenity. 

Many  of  the  houses  on  this  street  had  little 
balconies  and  porticos  extending  out  over  the 
narrow  sidewalk,  and  all  had  their  usual  en- 
vironments of  beautiful  flowers  and  graceful 
drapery  of  vines. 

Presently  Dr.  Leslie  turned  suddenly  into  a 
little  side  street,  and  driving  a  short  distance 
drew  up  in  front  of  a  pretty  but  old-fashioned 
house,  with  the  most  picturesque  surroundings. 
As  he  did  so,  Ruth  glanced  at  him  as  if  she  were 
surprised,  but  said  nothing. 

"This  is  where  my  sister  Rachel  lives,"  he 
said  with  one  of  his  humorous  smiles,  and  an- 
swering Ruth's  questioning  eyes.  Mrs.  Gray- 
son charged  me  with  a  package  for  her,  and  ac- 
cording to  promise  I  must  deliver  it  before  I  re- 
turn home." 

While  they  awaited  at  the  gate  without  alight- 
ing, Miss  Rachel  emerged  from  the  front  porch 
as  neat  and  prim  as  if  she  had  made  special  prep- 
aration for  their  coming,  and  shaking  out  her 
skirts,  hurried  down  to  the  gate  to  greet  them. 

"How  are  you  both?  Get  right  down  and 
come  in, ' '  she  said  in  an  unusually  cordial  voice, 
extending  a  hand  to  each.  "I've  not  been  to 
supper  yet,  but  Mary  is  getting  it  ready,  and 
will  have  it  on  the  table  in  a  few  moments.  It 
will  be  no  trouble  at  all,"  she  went  on,  as  if  the 
matter  admitted  of  a  doubt.  ' '  and  I  shall  be  glad 
to  have  you." 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  143 

"Thank  you,  Rachel;  not  this  afternoon. 
Helen  is  expecting  us  back  to  tea,  and  I've  no 
doubt  is  wondei'iag  now  what  has  detained  us 
beyond  her  regular  supper  hour.  She  asked  me 
to  call  by  and  hand  you  this  package— said  the 
note  enclosed  would  explain  about  it." 

Miss  Rachel  took  the  little  flat,  square  pack- 
age and  carefully  pressed  it  between  her  fingers, 
as  if  to  ascertain  its  contents.  It  yielded  softly 
to  the  touch  as  she  fingered  it. 

"Oh,  yes,"  she  said  mystically.  "Much 
obliged — all  right — tell  Helen  I'll  let  her  hear 
from  me  to-morrow,"  she  added,  following  out 
her  own  thoughts. 

Dr.  Leslie  and  Ruth  smiled,  and.  as  they 
turned  to  go.  Miss  Rachel  pressed  effusive  invi- 
tations, upon  Ruth  especially,  to  come  to  see  her 
very  soon. 

They  had  left  the  delightfully  quiet  Moravian 
town  behind  them  and  crossed  First  Street, 
when  they  came  upon  quite  a  festive  scene  upon 
their  right. 

"A  lawn  party,  I  suppose,"  said  Dr.  Leslie, 
and  Ruth  followed  the  slight  gesture  of  Ms  whip 
with  a  glance. 

Groups  of  ladies  and  children  were  gathered 
and  flitting  about  upon  a  beautiful,  spacious  lawn 
that  rolled  slightly  downward  on  either  side  of 
the  handsome  two-storied  dwelling  with  its  double 
porticos,  whilst  the  lawn  itself  was  shaded 
with  magnificent  trees  and  surrounded  by  a 
wealth  of  flowering  shrubs,  now  in  the  glory  of 
their  blossoming  beauty.  The  whole  place  had 
a  charmingly  festal  air,  for  amidst  the  showers 
of  light  and  blossom  and  perfume,  the  sound  of 
rippling  laughter  and  gay  girls'  voices  mingled, 


144  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

as  they  tended  their  snow-white  tables  and  grace- 
fully served  their  dainty  wares  to  the  stream  of 
visitors  continually  coming  and  going. 

"  One  rarely  sees  a  prettier  sight  than  tliat, " 
said  Dr.  Leslie,  as  they  passed  on.  ''  'It  is  like 
some  pretty  day-dream,  some  melody  that  is 
sweetly  played  in  time.'  '' 

"  Whose  home  is  it.  where  the  entertainment 
is  being  held  ? ' '  asked  Ruth,  her  eyes  softly 
alight  with  the  enjoyment  she  felt  in  the  pretty 
scene, 

"  Mr.  Sallade,  a  popular  young  lawyer  in  this 
city,  and  a  very  clever  gentleman  he  is,  too,  affa- 
ble and  courteous  to  everyone.  There  he  is 
now,  on  the  right  sidewalk,  going  home  from 
his  office." 

Ruth  followed  the  direction  of  his  glance  and 
saw  a  rather  tall,  slender  young  man,  with-  a 
clean-shaven  face,  save  a  slight  moustache,  and 
his  eyes,  which  met  Dr.  LesUe's  fully  and 
frankly  for  an  instant  as  he  returned  his  friendly 
greeting,  were  quite  dark  and  very  bright. 

' '  How  do,  Mr.  Sallade  ?  ' '  Dr.  Leshe  greeted 
him.     "  Hope  you  are  well,  sir." 

"  Quite  so,  thank  you.  Glad  to  see  you  home 
again,  doctor." 

The  gentlemen  raised  their  hats  simultane- 
ously and  bowed. 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you, "  repeated  Dr.  Leslie. 
"It's  always  pleasant  to  get  back  again,  too, 
even  after  a  short  absence. ' '  Dr.  Leslie  sent  his 
voice  after  him,  for  they  had  passed  one  another 
during  the  brief  salutation,  and  Mr.  Sallade  was 
walking  at  his  usual  brisk  gait. 

When  they  reached  the  Court  House  Square, 
the  strains  from  the  air  of  some  familiar  old 


TN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  145 

song,  full  of  tender  pathos,  came  to  them  on  the 
evening  breeze.  It  touched  Ruth  like  an  awak- 
ened echo  from  the  silent  land.  It  was  faulty 
in  rhyme  and  meter,  but  the  lay  was  indescri- 
bably sweet  because  of  its  association  with 
memories  of  days  that  were  past.  When  they 
drew  near  they  saw  a  group  of  negro  musicians 
who,  with  banjo,  guitar  and  harmonicon  had 
set  the  warm  air  astir  with  the  sad,  weird  strains 
they  evoked  from  their  instruments,  and  drawn 
a  crowd  of  rapt  listeners  around  them.  For  the 
moment  the  plaintive  cadence  saddened  Ruth, 
and  her  lovely  eyes  were  full  of  the  silent  sym- 
pathetic passion  that  stirred  her  soul. 

"  Negroes  are  born  musical  geniuses,  and  if 
their  latent  talent  were  developed,  they  ^"^ould 
make  the  finest  musicians  in  the  world,"  said 
Dr.  Leshe,  looking  toward  the  motley  group 
congregated  on  the  corner.  "  Many  of  them 
have  splendid  voices,  too,  and  no  Southerner 
can  listen  even  to  the  broken  chant  of  an  old 
darkey  crooning  a  weird  song  of  the  plantation 
times  without  his  heart  being  softened.  They 
can  suit  music  to  any  mood  and  purpose.  And 
Dixie — why  no  one  can  sing  Dixie  with  such 
passion  and  pathos  as  the  darkey.  I  hke  to  hear 
him  sing  it.  Ah,  that  dear  old  song  will  never 
die,  for  it  was,  as  some  one  has  so  beautifully 
put  it,  '  the  lullaby  and  the  requiem  of  the 
proudest  nation  of  the  earth  that  ever  died  so 
young.'  " 

Ruth  was  silent  the  next  few  minutes,  and 
the  vehicle  roUed  smoothly  on  its  way  through 
the  gay,  bustling  streets,  and  when  they  finally 
stopped  and  Dr.  Leslie  helped  her  out,  he  said : 

"  I  dare  say  Mrs.  Grayson  is  wondering  what 
has  become  of  us. ' ' 


146  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Then  to  Virgil:  "Groom  and  feed  Hector  well, 
Virgil."  He  handed  the  reins  to  that  ever 
watchful  functionary,  then  joined  Ruth,  who 
stood  waiting  for  him  on  the  steps. 

''  I  don't  know  how  to  thank  you  enough.  Dr. 
Leslie,  for  the  pleasure  you  have  given  me  this 
afternoon,"  she  said,  smiling  and  brightening; 
"  but  I  want  to  assure  you  that  I  haven't  en- 
joyed anything  so  much  since — "  she  stopped 
suddenly,  and  her  voice  half  choked  with  tears. 

"  Don't  speak  of  it,  child,"  he  said  hurriedly, 
in  his  frank  winning  way.  "lb  was  a  great 
pleasure  to  me  to  take  you,  and  I  shall  be  most 
happy  to  do  so  again." 

Ruth  felt  the  singular  fascination  of  her  guar- 
dian's power,  which  instantly  soothed  and 
quieted  her,  but  she  did  not  understand  it. 

He  took  her  hand,  and  moved  by  common  con- 
sent, they  slowly  asceaded  the  steps  together 
and  in  silence  entered  the  house. 


IN    THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  147 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Nellie  was  on  the  watch  for  her  uncle's  ap- 
proach. 

''  Oh,  Uncle  Ralph,  I  am  so  glad  that  you  and 
Cousin  Ruth  have  come.  Just  guess  who's  here. 
Of  course  Cousin  Ruth  can't,  because  she 
doesn't  know  him." 

''The  visitor  is  a  gentleman,  then.  Well,  I 
suppose  it  is  my  friend.  Dr.  Seaton."  he  said 
amusedly,  as  he  turned  to  the  sitting-room. 

"  Oh,  don't  go  in  there,  Uncle  Ralph;  mamma 
and  Dr.  Seaton  are  waiting  for  you  in  the  dining- 
room,"  she  said  hastily,  "so  you  and  Cousin 
Ruth  come  right  on." 

Ruth  noticed  that  there  was  a  most  cordial 
greeting  between  the  two  men,  and  as  Mrs. 
Grayson  mentioned  Dr.  Seaton's  name  he  came 
forward  and  she  presented  him. 

Now  and  then  Ruth's  soft  glance  swept  over 
the  face  of  their  visitor  as  he  listened  with  atten- 
tive interest  to  Dr.  Leslie,  and  she  saw  that  his 
manner  was  quiet,  easy  and  full  of  unfailing 
dignity  and  self-confident  grace. 

The  conversation  drifted  from  one  familiar 
topic  to  another,  Ruth  listening  with  interest, 
but  almost  in  silence,  and  when  they  finally  rose 
from  the  table  and  returned  to  the  sitting-room, 
the  long  twilight  had  ended,  and  the  rooms  were 
brightly  lighted.  From  the  first  Dr.  Seaton  was 
charmed  with  Ruth,  and  they  were  soon  talking 
as  if  they  were  old  acquaintances. 

Near  where  they  were  sitting  stood  a  pretty 
metal  table,  upon  which  was  a  superb  gold-lined 
bowl  filled  with  exquisite  pond  and  lotus  lilies. 


148  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Ruth  reached  over  and  took  out  one  of  the 
half-blown  pink  flowers,  and  holding  it  up  by 
its  smooth,  rubber-like  stem,  said: 

"■  Isn't  it  lovely  ?  I  do  not  kuow^  any  flower 
so  beautiful  as  the  lily,  unless  it  is  the  rose. 
Those  exquisitely  delicate  Caroline  Test  out  roses 
in  the  vase  on  the  mantel  quite  rival  these  lilies 
if  any  flower  can.  Where  do  these  lilies  grow  V  " 
she  asked. 

"  These,  I  suppose,  came  from  Dr.  Balbec's 
pond,  near  the  city.  He  has  acquired  much 
local  reputation  by  his  success  in  rearing  mag- 
nificent lilies,  lotuses  and  other  rare  water 
plants. ' ' 

"  Is  he  the  gentleman  who  has  Victoria  Regia 
growing  in  the  open  air  ?  I  heard  Mrs.  Grayson 
talking  with  some  lady  visitors  of  this  wonder- 
ful flower,  and  I  intended  to  ask  her  about  it 
afterw^ards,  but  neglected  to  do  so.'' 

She  restored  the  lily  to  the  bowl,  then  with 
the  most  charming  naivete  turned  to  him  and 
asked,  ''  Won't  you  tell  me  about  it,  please?  " 

"  Certainly,  I  will  take  pleasure  in  giving  you 
what  information  I  have  upon  the  subject, "  he 
said,  smiling.  "  But  I  dare  say  you  know  quite 
as  much  about  it  as  I  do.  You  have  no  doubt 
read  the  story  of  the  immense  trouble  and  ex- 
pense at  which  a  living  plant  of  the  Victoria 
Regia  was  transferred  to  the  Royal  Gardens  at 
Kew;  and  how  for  a  long  time  this  royal  plant 
was  studied,  and  a  special  aquarium  prepared 
for  it. ''  He  paused  and  looked  at  her  as  if  wait- 
ing for  her  to  affirm  his  assertion. 

"  I  may  have  read  it,  but  I  should  not  object 
to  hearing  it  repeated,"  she  said  smiling. 

"  Well,  after  the  aquarium  was  prepared  the 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDOllADO.  149 

gardener  was  able  to  keep  up  a  temperature  of 
98  degrees  F. ;  then  at  last,  to  the  great  joy  of 
the  botanical  and  horticultural  world,  the  plant 
bloomed.  This  success  made  way  for  another 
at  the  Exposition  in  Philadelphia,  in  1876,  and 
since  then  the  ambition  of  many  lovers  of  beau- 
tiful acquatJc  plants  has  been  directed  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  grand  feat  elsewhere.  The 
magnificent  leaves,  five  in  number,  are  sur- 
rounded by  a  modest  flower  of  pure  white.  One 
of  the  largest  of  the  leaves  grown  in  Dr.  Balbec's 
pond  measured  sixty  inches  in  diameter,  and 
bore  the  weight  of  a  little  girl  weighing  65 
pounds,  and  in  this  attitude  the  whole  plant  was 
photographed." 

Ruth  rose,  crossed  the  room,  and  taking  a 
cabinet  size  photograph  from  among  quite  a 
number  of  others  which  lay  upon  the  table, 
came  back  and  handed  it  to  him.  "  Is  that  the 
picture  you  have  reference  to  '?  " 

''Yes;  the  same,"  he  said,  looking  down  at  it. 
"It  is  Captain  Gilbert's  little  daughter." 
Then  he  handed  it  back  to  her  and  went  on : 
"The  flower  has  a  very  short  life,  measured 
only  by  two  days.  On  the  second  day  one  was 
plucked  and  placed  in  a  parlor,  where,  side  by 
side  with  magnificent  red,  blue  and  white  lilies, 
eichorinos  or  water  hyacinths  and  water  pop- 
pies, it  reigned  supreme  and  went  through  a  re- 
markable transformation.  The  outer  white 
petals  gently  opened,  getting  wider  and  wider 
as  each  layer  separated,  then  assumed  a  delicate 
pink." 

"  And  do  these  lilies  grow  here  in  the  open 
air?"  Euth  asked,  wonderingly.  her  soft  eyes 
glowing. 


150  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Yes,  Id  open  ponds,  right  in  this  place."  he 
said,  laughing.     '"Marvelous,  isn't  it?" 

"  Indeed,   I  think   it  is.     Do   you  remember 
where   the    plant   was    first   discovered?"    she' 
asked,  still  interested  in  the  discussion. 

"  In  the  upper  Amazon,  and  named  in  honor 
of  Qaeen  Victoria."  Then,  after  a  short  silencp 
he  turned  to  her  and  said,  "  Won't  you  play 
and  sing  something,  Miss  Arnold  ?  Before  you 
returned  from  your  drive  this  afternoon,  Mrs. 
Grayson  told  me  about  your  wonderful  musical 
gift,  and  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  hear  you." 

Ruth  took  her  seat  at  the  instrument,  and,  as 
was  her  habit  when  playing  without  notes,  rap- 
idly swept  her  agile  fingers  up  and  down  the 
keys,  then  suddenly  dashed  into  one  of  Ruben- 
stein's  most  popular  compositions.  She  played 
pieces  from  the  great  masters  of  the  past  as  well 
as  the  modern  ones. 

Dr.  Leslie,  who  had  been  sitting  just  without 
the  window  of  the  veranda  talking  to  Mrs.  Gray- 
son when  Ruth  began  to  play,  now  involuntarily 
entered  the  room,  strangely  attracted  by  her 
music,  and  seating  himself  near  the  piano  lis- 
tened as  one  entranced. 

Ruth's  whole  personality  seemed  completely 
absorbed  in  the  eloquent  tide  of  melody  which 
rose  and  fell  and  vibrated  in  rippling  waves  and 
floated  far  out  on  the  evening  breeze.  When  she 
presently  ceased  playing  and  looked  round,  Dr. 
Leslie  stood  beside  her.  his  handsome  face 
glowing. 

"  I  have  not  words  to  express  my  sincere  ad- 
miration and  enjoyment,  Ruth,''  he  said.  "  I 
was  not  prepared  for  this.  You  have  indeed  re- 
markable musical  powers." 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  151 

Dr.  Seaton,  though  outwardly  not  so  demon- 
strative as  her  guardian,  showered  praises  upon 
her  that  made  her  smile  gratefully  up  into  his 
face. 

"  Thank  you  both,"  she  said:  "  I  am  always 
glad  when  one  really  appreciates  my  music." 

"Don't  you  sing,  too,  Ruth?"  Dr.  Leslie 
asked,  steadily  regarding  the  bewitching  face. 

She  turned  to  the  piano  again,  and  with  a  sort 
of  rhythmic  motion  ghded  her  fingers  over  the 
keys. 

"What  shall  I  sing?"  she  asked,  glancing 
round.  As  neither  Dr.  Seaton  nor  Mrs.  Gray- 
son suggested  anything,  Dr.  Leslie  said : 

"  Some  pretty  old  Scottish  ballad.  I  have 
always  had  a  tender  and  sincere  regard  for 
them." 

"  How  would  you  like  me  sing  '  The  Lass  o' 
Gowrie, '  or  '  The  Dowie  Dens  of  Yarrow  '  ?"  she 
asked. 

"  Oh,  by  all  means — either  one  or  both  of 
them,  if  you  will.  They  are  great  favorites  of 
mine,"  said  Dr.  Leslie. 

When  her  rich  voice  burst  upon  them  her  glo- 
rious notes  rang  out  with  melody  beyond  all 
praise.  Her  listeners  sat  hushed  and  breathless, 
as  she  sang  piece  after  piece,  and  the  music  rip- 
pled lightly,  merrily  and  joyfully  through  the 
room. 

Her  sweet  voice  dropped  into  the  rhythm  of 
the  music,  and  she  sang  with  all  the  abandon  of 
one  who  loses  herself  and  forgets  everything  in 
his  glowing  inspiration. 

When  she  rose.  Dr.  Leslie  went  up  to  her  and 
with   admiring,    wondering  eyes  looking  down 


152  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

into  hers,  said:  "  Euth,  thank  you.  We  have 
enjoyed  a  double  treat  this  evening.  Such  a 
voice  you  have !  It  is  hke  the  tones  of  the  finest 
Stradivarius.     It  is  incomparable." 

He  was  passionately  fond  of  music,  and  he 
could  not  help  giving  vent  to  his  admiration  of 
her  superb  and  wonderful  gift. 

The  evening  had  passed  delightfully  and  rap- 
idly by,  and  when  Dr.  Seaton  rose  to  go  he  said 
to  Mrs.  Grayson,  ' '  I  am  greatly  indebted  fco  you 
for  affording  me  this  opportunity  of  spending  a 
most  charming  evening,"  at  the  same  time  ex- 
tending her  his  hand  while  his  glance  rested  on 
Ruth. 

Dr.  Leslie  followed  his  guest  into  the  hall, 
and  a  few  minutes  later  when  he  came  back 
into  the  sitting-room,  Ruth  had  vanished  to  her 
own  room. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  153 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  cheerful  peals  of  the  church  bells  were 
ringing  throughout  the  city,  bidding  the  people 
to  turn  aside  from  the  busy  cares,  sordid 
thoughts  and  perplexing  anxieties  of  their  every- 
day lives,  and,  in  remembrance  of  the  love  and 
sacrifice  revealed  to  the  human  race,  attend 
upon  the  sanctuary  of  God  this  lovely  Sabbath 
morning,  so  full  of  glad  repose  and  suggestive- 
ness  of  spiritual  sweetness. 

"  Do  you  think  you  are  feeling  strong  enough 
to  attend  church  this  morning?"  said  a  voice 
behind  Rath.  She  looked  quickly  round  and 
saw  the  smiling  face  of  her  guardian. 

■■•  Oh — excuse  me — how  you  startled  me,  Dr. 
Leslie.  Yes,  thank  you,"  she  replied  in  her 
soft,  silvery  voice,  smiling,  "  I've  only  a  head- 
ache.    Just  a  slight  one. " 

"  Only  a  headache,"  he  repeated;  "  this  hot 
weather  is  trying  on  you,  and  you  need  a  tonic 
in  the  way  of  cooler  breezes.  I  think  I  shall 
have  you  and  Mrs.  Grayson  off  to  the  mountains 
without  further  delay.  How  soon  do  you  think 
you  can  be  ready  ?  ' ' 

Ruth  laughed.  "  Oh,  I'm  ready  now,  only  I 
shouldn't  like  to  start  on  the  Sabbath,  you  know, 
I  believe,  however,  that  Mrs.  Grayson  intends 
leaving  next  week." 

''  Well,  which  church  do  you  wish  to  attend 
to-day,  or  have  you  a  preference  V  Mr.  Darcy 
has  gone  to  fill  an  appointment  at  one  of  his 
churches  in  a  village  near  by,  but  there  will  be 
services  in  several  other  churches  whose  pastors 
are  not  absent  on  their  vacation,  aad  at  any  one 

11 


154  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

of  them  you  will  be  likely  to  hear  au  excellent 
discourse.  We  are  singularly  blessed  in  our  city 
clergymen,  for  they  are  divines  of  unusual  in- 
tellectual power  and  spirituality,  and  wield  a 
vast  moral  influence  in  the  community.  It 
gives  me  no  little  gratification  to  say  that  our 
city  churches,  as  a  rule,  have,  in  a  rare  degree, 
more  broad-hearted  sympathy,  more  unity  of 
purpose,  and  more  genuine  brotherly  love  for 
one  another,  than,  so  far  as  I  have  an  op^jortu- 
nity  of  observing  and  fiading  out,  churches  of 
different  denominations  in  other  communities."' 

' '  That  must  be  a  very  pleasant  state  of  things, 
both  for  the  pastor  and  the  people,  I  imagine," 
returned  Euth  with  sweet  gravity.  Just  then 
her  eyes  fell  upon  the  paper  which  Dr.  Leslie 
had  been  reading  when  he  entered  the  room, 
and  she  took  it  up  and  mechanically  read  the 
name  on  the  title  page— The  Sunday  School 
Times.  Then  smoothing  it  out  in  a  half  absent 
sort  of  way,  she  slowly  and  carefully  folded  and 
handed  it  to  him. 

"  No,  you  keep  it  and  read  it  if  you  like.  It 
contains  some  very  admirable  articles  which  may 
interest  you.  There  is  one  especially,  which, 
though  short,  is  both  suggestive  and  interesting 
to  me.  Let  me  find  it  for  you,  and  you  can 
read  it  when  you  wish.'' 

He  took  the  paper  and  ran  his  eyes  rapidly 
over  its  pages.  "  Ah,  here  it  is."  he  said,  and 
held  the  paper  towards  her,  pointing  to  the  ar- 
ticle in  question. 

' '  Suppose  you  read  it  to  me, " "  she  said  pret- 
tily. 

"Certainly,  I  will  gladly  do  so.'  Dr.  Leslie 
resumed  the  paper  and  read  aloud  the  title  of  the 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  155 

article:  "Which  is  the  most  profitable  to  tiie 
Christian  worker — failure  or  success  '? ' '  he  read 
slowly,  looked  up,  then  went  on:  "No  doubt 
both  are  useful;  and  in  such  proportion  as  God 
adjusts  they  are  exactly  suited  to  our  need.  All 
failures  would  so  discourage  us,  that  we  should 
turn  back  from  the  work ;  whereas,  if  we  never 
had  anything  but  success,  we  should  become 
proud  and  self-sufficient.  Discouragements  are 
useful  in  keeping  us  humbled,  and  low^  before 
God  in  a  spirit  of  dependence  and  prayer ;  while 
successes  inspire  and  stimulate  us  in  the  work, 
and  give  us  boldness  to  go  forward  in  new  and 
more  difficult  enterprises." 

Ruth  sat  still,  listening  very  attentively  to  the 
cadence  of  his  rich,  musical  voice.  When  he 
had  finished  reading,  he  said,  *'  Now  let  me  illus- 
trate a  case  in  point.  I  recently  met  a  lady  of 
this  city — a  lady  who  belongs  to  one  of  the 
many  circles  of  King's  Daughters  here,  and  who, 
with  quite  a  number  of  other  members  of  the 
same  Circle,  has  been  doing  a  great  deal  to  build 
a  home  for  working-women — and  she  told  me  of 
their  trials  in  getting  their  work  started.  At 
first  they  felt  quite  equal  to  it,  and  so  sure  were 
they  that  others  would  see  it  in  the  same  light 
they  did,  that  when  they  went  to  solicit  money 
from  some  of  the  wealthy  business  men  of  the 
city  with  which  to  build  their  Home,  they  had 
no  doubt  of  an  immediate  response.  But  they 
felt  greatly  staggered  and  discouraged  when 
they  found  that  their  expected  patrons  kindly 
and  politely  held  themselves  excused.  This  dis- 
couragement drove  them  to  seek  guidance  of 
God,  and  there  they  found  strength.  Most  un- 
expectedly, a   part  of  the  money  came  to  them 


156  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

from  other  directions  than  they  had  anticipated, 
one  benevolent  gentleman  giving  them  a  hand- 
some donation  as  a  memorial  to  his  sainted  wife, 
in  whose  honor  the  Home  is  to  be  called — '  The 
Delphine  Home  for  Working  Women ' — Del- 
phine  being  his  wife's  Christian  name.  Now 
this  money  is  really  of  more  use  to  them,  coming 
in  this  way,  than  if  they  had  obtained  it  in  their 
own  way." 

"  Surely  money  never  seems  so  golden  as 
when  it  is  used  in  some  such  way  as  this, ' '  Ruth 
said,  taking  the  paper  her  guardian  handed  her 
and  refolding  it. 

"Cousin  Ruth,  you  are  a  King's  Daughter, 
too,  aren't  you  ?"  asked  Nellie,  w^ho  had  entered 
the  room  while  her  uncle  was  talking  and  went 
and  stood  beside  Ruth,  resting  her  arm  affec- 
tionately upon  her  shoulder.  As  she  spoke,  she 
bent  down  and  touched  the  little  silver  cross 
pinned  on  the  bosom  of  Ruth's  dress.  "  I  just 
came  to  tell  you, ' '  she  went  on,  apologetically, 
"■  that  mamma  says  that  it  is  very  nearly  time 
to  get  ready  for  church;  but  Uncle  Ralph  was 
talking  when  I  came  in,  so  I  waited  for  him  to 
get  through.  We  are  going  to  the  Centenary 
Church,  where  Mr.  Norwood  preaches,  and  the 
first  bell  has  already  rung.'' 

Ruth  rose  at  once  and  took  up  The  Times. 

''  Where  have  you  been  all  the  morning,  Nel- 
lie ?  "  she  asked,  moving  toward  the  door  with 
Nellie  still  clinging  caressingly  about  her  as  if 
reluctant  to  let  her  go. 

"  Why,  to  Sunday  School;  didn't  you  know? 
I  go  every  Sunday,  if  I'm  not  sick.  I  am  in 
Mrs.  Weslev's  class  in  the  infant  room,  where 
there  are  ever   so   manv  children,   but  when  I 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  15.7 

am  older  she  will  put  me  in  the  big  room — the 
church,  you  kuow,  where  Major  Brice.  our  Su- 
perintendent, stays.  Mrs.  Wesley  tells  us  so 
many  beautiful  Bible  stories  every  Sunday,  from 
a  big  picture  which  she  puts  on  the  easpl ;  then 
we  have  music  and  singing,  and  lessons  and 
books — story-books,  you  know,  and  Sunday 
School  papers,  too.  Oh,  it's  ever  so  nice  to  go 
to  Sunday  School,  and  next  Sunday  I  want  you 
to  go  and  take  a  class  in  our  room.  I  heard  Mrs. 
Wesley  tell  Major  Brice  this  niorning  that  she 
wanted  some  more  teachers,  and  I  just  know 
she'll  let  you  teach  in  her  room.  Now.  won't 
you  go,  Cousin  Ruth?"  she  asked,  looking  ap- 
pealingly  into  her  face.  "  Promise,  or  I  shan't 
let  you  go,"  holding  her  fast  and  trying  to  bar 
the  way. 

"  Yes,  thank  you,  I  will  be  delighted  to  go," 
said  Euth,  laughing.  ''  Not  as  a  teacher,  how- 
ever, but  as  a  pupil  myself.'" 

Though  a  breeze  was  stirring,  it  was  languor- 
ously warm,  and  the  blue  of  the  far-away  un- 
fathomable sky  paled  in  the  unbroken  splendor 
of  the  fervid  sun. 

There  were  a  few  people  in  carriages  and  many 
on  foot  in  the  broad  street  where  the  sun  shone 
with  such  glittering  glare,  wending  their  way 
to  church,  and  Dr.  Leslie  and  Mrs.  Grayson  con- 
stantly acknowledged  the  salutations  of  their 
acquaintances  as  they  passed,  who  looked  with 
inquiring  eyes  at  Ruth.  She  seemed  totally 
unconscious  of  their  inquisitive  glances  and  went 
on  talking  composedly  to  her  guardian.  Groups 
of  prettily  attired,  bright-faced  children  on  their 
way  from  Sunday  School  flitted  past  them.  Here 
and  there  they  met  neatly-dressed,  white-capped 


158  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

nurse  maids  loitering  homeward,  or  sitting  upon 
some  shady  door-step,  flirting  promiscuously 
with  their  beaux,  while  their  little  charges  in 
their  pretty  carriages,  when  not  asleep  amused 
themselves  as  best  they  could,  unheeded  and 
quite  forgotten. 

As  they  reached  the  next  intersecting  street, 
a  small  pony -cart,  draw^n  by  a  beautiful  black 
Shetland  pony  and  driven  by  a  small  boy  with  a 
bright,  handsome  face,  drove  past  them. 

At  sight  of  Ruth,  the  little  fellow,  trimly  at- 
tired in  a  white -flannel  sailor  suit  and  blue  tie, 
raised  his  straw  liat,  bowed  and  smiled  in  a 
charmingly  naive  manner. 

"  Cousin  Ruth,  isn't  that  just  tlie  cutest  little 
pony  you  ever  saw?"'  asked  Nellie.  "  Jerold's 
uncle  gave  it  to  him  on  his  birthday,  because  he 
thinks  so  much  of  him.  I  think  it  was  ever  so 
nice  in  his  uncle,  don't  you?''  glancing  signifi- 
cantly at  her  Uncle  Ralph.  "  I  want  mamma  to 
give  me  one  just  like  it.  Jerold's  pony  is  named 
Bob,  but  if  I  had  one  I  should  name  him — let 
me  see — weU,  what  would  you  name  him,  Cousin 
Ruth?" 

"  Really  I  don't  know;  but  I  beheve  I'd  wait 
until  I  got  one,  and  then  try  to  find  a  suitable 
name  for  him.  What  is  the  little  bov's  name  ? 
He  has  such  a  sweet  face. ' ' 

"  Jerold  Berkley,"  answered  Nellie,  promptly. 
"  I  thought  you  knew.  He  is  sach  a  good  little 
boy.  too.  Cousin  Ruth,  for  he  goes  to  church  and 
Sunday  School  every  Sunday. ' ' 

' '  If  that  is  the  limit  of  your  standard  for  guag- 
ing  one's  excellence,  Nellie,  I'm  afraid  you  fall 
sadly  short  of  the  requirement, "  said  her  mother, 
smiling.     "  But  Jerold  Berkley  is  indeed  an  un- 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  159 

usually  good  child,  aud  his  whole  nature  seems 
to  have  been  chastened  and  purified  through  his 
long  suffering." 

Just  then  a  short,  thick- set  gentleman,  appa- 
rently about  thirty-eight  or  forty  years,  with  a 
kind,  strong  face,  came  opposite  them  across  the 
street.  His  dark  hair,  mustache  and  chin  whis- 
kers were  sprinkled  with  gray,  and  the  gaze  of 
the  blue  eyes  from  under  the  slightly  drooping 
evelids  was  firm  and  clear,  while  from  his  whole 
personality  eminated  an  aroma  of  goodness  and 
kindness  of  heart,  which  were  characteristic  of 
him. 

•'  Oh,  there's  Cousin  Joe  !  "  exclaimed  Nellie, 
in  a  perfect  fever  of  enthusiasm  as  soon  as  she 
saw  him.  and  she  would  have  darted  off  and 
joined  him,  but  her  mother  laid  her  hand  upon 
her  arm  to  restrain  her.  "  Mr.  Joe  Mosby, "  said 
Dr.  Leslie,  in  a  low  tone  to  Ruth.  "  One  of  the 
cleverest  and  best  of  men."  Just  as  he  called 
the  name  the  owner  looked  quickly  in  their  direc- 
tion, as  if  he  had  been  addressed,  and  at  the 
same  time  the  twc  men  smiled,  touched  their 
hats  and  bowed. 

The  crowd  perceptibly  increased  as  they  drew 
near  the  church,  and  Nellie  chatted  on  until  they 
had  reached  the  steps  of  the  facade  with  its  or- 
namental terra-cotta  railing,  which  gave  the 
building  a  very  imposing  look.  Here  she  ceased 
talking,  involuntarily,  and  despite  her  eagerness 
to  stop  and  speak  with  her  Cousin  Joe,  she 
quietly  followed  the  usher  up  the  long  aisles  of 
the  spacious  church  to  one  of  the  front  pews, 
tvhere  he  seated  them.  When  the  slight  com- 
motion which  their  entrance  had  ocasioned  sub- 
sided, Ruth  glanced  about  her,  making  mental 
notes  of  one  kind  and  another. 


160  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Never  would  she  forget  that  Sunday  morning. 
The  peaceful  church  with  its  long  galleries  filled. 
as  were  the  auditorium  and  the  annex  in  rear  of 
the  chancel,  with  unfamiliar  faces ;  the  rapid  flut- 
tering of  fans ;  the  light,  cool  toilets  of  the  ladies, 
pleasantly  mingled  with  the  sombre  garb  of  the 
gentlemen;  the  bright  flowers  upon  the  altar; 
the  crimson  and  purple  light  streaming  in  through 
the  richly  stained,  half -opened  windows;  the 
calm  dignity  and  reverential  bearing  of  the  min- 
ister, whose  sweet  benevolent  face  was  a  liv- 
ing sermon  in  itself — a  sermon  more  eloquent 
than  was  ever  any  sermon  spoken  from  a  pulpit. 
It  was  all  very  impressive  and  sympathetic  and 
resting  to  her  mind.  Gradually  her  thoughts 
were  diverted  from  her  surroundings  and  her 
heart  seemed  lifted  as  into  a  realm  of  ineffable 
peace  and  serenity,  while  she  was  conscious  of  a 
Presence  that  calmed  and  strengthened  her. 

At  that  moment  from  the  great  organ  in  the 
gallery  over  the  entrance  way,  came  a  low. 
moaning  sound  as  of  mighty  waters  afar  off. 
whose  hoarse  roar  was  harmonized  and  softened 
by  the  distance ;  but  coming  near,  the  deep  thun- 
der tones  gained  in  volume  and  power  and  swelled 
grandly  and  triumphant!}'  upon  the  air.  Ruth 
sat  motionless,  breathless,  for  the  time  uncon- 
scious of  all  things  save  the  magic  tones  of  the 
great  organ,  which  seemed  as  a  voice  appealing 
to  her  out  of  the  unfathomable  Beyond  and  she 
was  powerless  to  respond. 

The  minister  began  his  discourse,  and  it  was 
one  calculated  to  do  much  good.  The  text  was 
contained  in  the  warning  given  by  the  Great 
Teacher  to  His  disciples  when  upon  earth,  but 
which  still  rings  down  the  corridor  of  ages,  and 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  1<>1 

warns  as  earnestly  and  solemnly  to-day  as  when 
in  old  Judea,  He  said,  "Take  ye  heed,  watch  and 
pray:  for  ye  know  not  when  the  time  is."  With 
unflagging  interest  Ruth  closely  followed  him  all 
through  his  sermon,  which  was  remarkably 
forceful,  yet  plain  and  practical.  His  theo- 
logical views  were  sternly  orthodox  and  were 
illuminating  and  convincing.  Then  followed  an 
earnest,  impressive  prayer  by  the  Presiding  El- 
der, Rev.  Mr.  Carrollton,  who  was  sitting  near 
the  altar.  He  was  a  tall  man  of  fine  physique, 
white  hair,  and  a  saint-like  intellectual  face — a 
face  purified  through  suffering — and  a  gentle 
humility  of  demeanor.  As  the  full  tones  of  the 
good  man  arose  in  a  passionate  pleading,  in  ac- 
cent soulful  and  fervent,  it  seemed  to  bring  to 
each  bowed  head  a  sense  of  relief. 

When  the  doxology  was  concluded,  the  large 
congregation  began  to  file  orderly  out  of  the 
church  amidst  the  brilliant  strains  of  music, 
which  swept  down  from  the  gilded  pipes,  keep- 
ing time  as  it  were  to  the  soft  rustle  and  tread 
of  the  dispersing  throng. 

A  number  of  friends  pressed  forward  to  give 
Mrs.  Grayson  a  hand-clasp,  and  those  who  could 
not  get  near  enough  to  do  this,  nodded  and 
smiled  their  salutation  and  passed  on.  "  LoveJ 
Serve !  ' '  this  beautiful  motto  of  the  late  Lord 
Shaftesbury,  one  of  England's  noblemen,  oc- 
curred to  Ruth,  and  she  thought  how  applicable 
it  was  to  Mrs.  Grayson  as  she  saw  how  the  rich 
and  poor  vied  in  doing  her  h^uor.  At  this  mo- 
ment she  was  talking  with  a  very  handsome  lady, 
rather  large,  with  a  sweet,  happy  face,  and 
Ruth  was  regarding  her  with  interest  when  Mrs. 
Grayson  turned  and  said,  "  Mrs.  Norwood,  this 
is  Miss  Arnold,  my  brother's  ward." 


162  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"I  am  pleased  to  meet  you,  Miss  Arnold,"  she 
said,  cordially  extending  her  hand.  "  I  saw 
from  The  Sentinel  that  you  had  arrived  in  our 
city,  and  I  hope  this  may  prove  the  first  of  many 
pleasant  meetings  with  you."  Then,  adding  a 
few  more  gracious  words  of  welcome  to  her, 
Mrs.  Norwood  turned  away  to  greet  others  in  her 
husband's  large  congregation. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  163 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

It  was  not  Dr.  Leslie's  habit  to  go  out  of 
town  more  than  a  week  or  two  at  a  time  during 
the  summer  season,  but  he  generally  managed 
to  hurry  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Nellie  off  for  at  least 
six  weeks. 

On  the  morning  they  were  to  leave,  Mrs. 
Grayson  glanced  hurriedh^  over  the  letters  which 
had  arrived  by  the  morning's  mail.  Among  the 
several  letters  for  her  there  was  one  from  Carl, 
which  received  her  first  attention,  and  after  sat- 
isfying herself  that  he  was  well  and  happy,  she 
thrust  it  along  with  others  in  her  traveling 
satchel  to  read  leisurely  on  the  way. 

Nellie  ran  to  the  hall  table,  and  the  next  few 
seconds  applied  herself  diligently  to  gathering 
up  her  things. 

''  Oh,  Uncle  Ralph,  we'll  be  sure  to  miss  the 
train.  Do  come  along.  Mamma,  and  Cousin 
Ruth;  let  us  hurry. '' 

Ruth  looked  wonderfully  bright  and  pretty  as 
she  came  down  the  steps  smiling  and  talking. 
She  wore  a  plain  but  handsome  black  traveling 
dress  and  hat,  and  the  roses  in  her  cheeks  bore 
well  the  challenge  of  those  she  carried  in  her 
hand.  When  they  had  reached  the  phaeton,  she 
turned  a  smiling  face  to  her  guardian  and  asked 
in  a  rather  playful  spirit, 

"  How  long  are  we  to  be  banished  ?  " 

"  Well,  if  you  will  submit  the  length  of  your 
banishment  to  my  approval,  I  shall  say  stay 
until  I  give  you  a  permit  to  return — six,  or 
maybe  eight,  weeks,"  he  answered  in  the  same 
light  spirit. 


164  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Virgil  smiled  blandly,  touched  up  the  spirited 
horses  and  started  at  quite  a  reckless  speed  for 
the  station. 

Duj-ing  the  pauses  at  the  different  stations, 
Ruth  watched  with  intense  interest  the  moving- 
scene,  which  was  an  endless  source  of  entertain- 
ment to  her — the  miscellaneous  collection  of 
people  which  invariably  gathered  about  the 
train,  staring,  gossipping.  and  exchanging  a 
word  or  two  with  any  passengers  who  hap- 
pened to  come  out  on  the  platform  or  were  lean- 
ing from  the  car  window  to  take  in  a  general 
survey  of  the  surroundings.  There  was  a  blend- 
ing of  light  and  movement  and  color  in  the  shift- 
ing scenes,  with  vivid  suggestions  of  the  indi- 
vidual history  of  the  people  and  their  belongings, 
which  strangers  rarely  read  amiss. 

It  was  while  Ruth  was  taking  a  sort  of  men- 
tal inventory  of  the  personal  characteristics  of 
her  fellow-passengers  that  she  became  suddenly 
conscious  of  a  pair  of  soft  black  eyes  fixed  upon 
her  with  quiet  scrutiny.  The  owner  was  a 
young  man  who  sat  just  in  the  rear  of  Mrs. 
Grayson.  He  was  scrupulously  attired  in  a 
black  suit  and  immaculate  linen,  with  close-cut 
black  hair,  and  dark  but  clear  complexion,  and,  as 
soon  as  Ruth  turned  and  surprised  his  gaze,  he 
quickly  looked  in  another  direction,  but  his 
face  still  wore  the  same  expression,  and  the  lips 
the  same  melancholy  smile  she  had  first  noted. 
His  was  a  face  refined  by  earnest,  serious 
thought,  but  over  which,  when  he  spoke,  a 
warm  light  trembled  and  broke,  kindling  a  soft 
gleam  in  the  dark  depths  of  the  thoughtful  eyes. 

Ruth  found  herself  watching  with  a  kind  of , 
fascination  this   new   face   among    her  fellow- 


IX   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  165 

travelers,  and  one  that  she  became  more  and  more 
interested  in  studying,  till  Nellie  got  restless  and 
with  her  trivial  talk  appropriated  her  attention. 
Then  she  climbed  up  on  her  knees  upon  the 
seat,  and  before  Ruth  was  made  aware  of  her 
intention,  leaned  with  her  hthe  sinuosity  peril- 
ously far  out  of  the  car  window. 

The  next  moment  the  dark-eyed  stranger  bent 
over,  quietly  took  hold  of  a  fold  of  her  skirt  and 
attempted  to  draw  her  gently  in. 

In  a  second,  Nellie  sprang  back,  looked 
around  in  calm  wonder,  and  then  asked  in  child- 
ish petulance,  "  What  am  I  doing.  Mamma  ?  " 

But  Mrs.  Grayson  who  had  been  absorbed  in 
her  book  had  not  noticed  Nellie's  dangerous  pos- 
turing, and  when  she  uttered  this  exclamation, 
looked  up,  let  her  book  fall  in  her  lap,  and  turned 
an  inquiring  glance  tow^ard  the  stranger,  who 
still  held  Nellie's  dress  and  was  saying  to  her  in 
a  kind  tone — 

"You  are  all  right,  now.  I  hope  I  didn't 
startle  you."  In  an  instant  Mrs.  Grayson  per- 
ceived what  had  happened. 

*' Oh,  thank  you,  sir,"  she  said,  "you  are 
very  kind.  I  should  have  paid  more  attention 
to  my  little  girl,  but  was  reading,  and  for  the 
moment  failed  to  observe  her  movements.  I 
am  sorry  that  my  seeming  neglect  should  have 
givfin  you  this  trouble.  Indeed,  I  am  under  great 
obligations  to  you,  sir." 

In  her  burst  of  gratitude  for  the  thoughtful 
chivalry  of  the  stranger  her  kind  eyes  meant 
much  more  than  she  said.  She  saw  at  a  glance 
that  he  was  a  gentleman,  for  he  had  that  subtle 
,  stamp  in  his  look  and  bearing  which  is  unmis- 
takable. 


166  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Please  do  not  mention  it,  Madam.  I  am 
very  happy  to  have  rendered  the  service.  Your 
little  girl,  I  am  sure,  did  not  realize  her  danger." 

While  he  talked  he  had  been  casting  furtive 
glances  at  Ruth,  who  at  that  moment  was  trying 
with  graceful  futility  to  lower  the  latticed  shade 
of  the  window,  in  order  to  shut  out  the  hot  sun- 
shine which  now  streamed  in  and  almost  blinded 
her  with  its  dazzle. 

With  that  nameless  refinement  innate  in  the 
Southern  gentleman  of  birth  and  breeding,  the 
stranger  bowed  and  said,  ''  Permit  me  to  assist 
you."  Then  walking  round  to  the  back  of  the 
seat  which  Ruth  occupied,  bent  over,  pressed  the 
stubborn  spring  and  without  any  superfluity  of 
effort  it  yielded  readily  to  his  manipulations. 

''Thank  you,"  she  said,  simply  and  politely, 
but  in  a  tone  which  conveyed  a  hint  that  she  did 
not  wish  to  say  anything  further,  and  a  little 
color  stole  into  her  cheek ;  and,  as  he  bowed  his 
acknowledgment  of  her  thanks,  and  turned  to 
resume  his  seat,  Nellie  touched  him  on  the  sleeve 
and  burst  out  as  if  all  her  energies  were  concen- 
trated upon  the  one  aim. 

"  Won't  you  take  a  seat  with  us,  sir?  You 
have  been  so  good  to  me;  I  should  like  to  talk  to 
you.  See,  you  can  sit  by  my  mamma,  and  I  will 
sit  by  Cousin  Ruth."  She  jumped  suddenly 
down  as  she  spoke,  and  got  in  the  reversed  seat. 

"  Now,  you  can  sit  there,"  she  added,  point- 
ing to  the  vacant  seat  by  the  window. 

The  stranger  thanked  her  and  hesitated,  with 
his  hand  still  upon  the  back  of  the  seat ;  but  at 
that  moment,  Mrs.  Grayson,  smiling  cordially, 
repeated  Nellie's  invitation,  and  at  the  same  time 
made  room  for  him  beside  hei"self,  drawing  her 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  H)7 

skirts  aside  so  as  to  leave  the  end  of  the  seat 
clear,  and  adding,  "  It  seems  that  we  are  quite 
helpless  without  you,  and  I  shall  be  very  glad 
to  have  you/' 

When  he  had  taken  the  seat  Mrs.  Grayson 
offered  him.  he  took  a  card  from  his  breast 
pocket  and  quietly  handed  it  to  her.  She  looked 
at  it,  smiled,  then  offered  him  her  hand. 

"I  am  pleased  to  meet  you,  Mr.  Hawleigh." 
Then  looking  at  Ruth,  she  added,  "  Let  me  in- 
troduce you  to  Miss  Arnold,  Mr.  Hawleigh ;  and 
this  is  Nellie  Grayson,  my  little  daughter;  and 
of  course  lam  Mrs.  Grayson;"  she  laughed,  as 
if  suddenly  remembering  that  she  should  have 
introduced  herself  first. 


168  UNDER    GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

So  it  came  to  pass  quite  naturally  that  Mr. 
Hawleigh  should  get  acquainted  with  these  peo- 
ple whom  he  had  been  observing  with  more  than 
passing  interest,  and  wondering  who  they  were 
ever  since  he  had  boarded  the  train  several  hours 
previous  at  the  beautiful  little  city,  Statesville, 
en  route  for  Asheville. 

As  Mr.  Hawleigh  was  thoroughly  acquainted 

with  the  line  over  which  they  were  traveling, 

.  he  gave  them  bits  of  interesting  information  and 

history  about  the  towns  and  villages  through 

^\hich  they  passed. 

After  leaving  Morganton  they  began  \o  get 
visions  of  long  stretches  of  blue  mountain  peaks, 
rising  range  after  range  into  illimitable  distance, 
and  as  they  went  up.  the  great  Appalachian 
Chain  seemed  to  climb  dauntlessly  high  till  it 
reached  the  far  blue  sky. 

There  was  a  shimmering  of  sunlight  and  shadow 
— that  twinkling  of  golden  sunbeams  entangled 
in  the  meshes  of  silvery  mist,  over  hill  and  val- 
ley— that  was  simply  enchanting. 

Under  the  stimulus  of  her  environments,  so 
new^  to  her,  Nellie  was  enthused  with  delight, 
and  on  more  than  one  occasion  did  her  mother 
gently  remonstrate  with  her  for  her  garrulity, 
but  she  would  soon  forget  and  prattle  on  as 
thoughtlessly  as  ever.  Once  in  a  burst  of  confi- 
dence, she  leaned  towards  Mr.  Hawleigh  and  said, 

''  We  are  going  to  Asheville  to  spend  a  week; 
and  I'm  so  glad,  for  I  heard  you  tell  Cousin 
Ruth  that  you  are  going  there  too.  And  then 
we  are  going  to  Warm  Springs,  and  from  there 


IN   THE   NEAV    ELDORADO.  169 

to  the  White  Sulphur  Spriugs;  and — and — oh, 
well,  I  don't  know  where  else;  but  Uncle  Kalph 
told  mamma  he  wanted  Cousin  Euth  to  see  our 
beautiful  mountains ;  so  I  reckon  we  are  going 
everywhere  till  w^e  see  them." 

She  stopped  a  moment,  and  seeing  that  he  was 
about  to  speak,  asked  quickly,  "  Is  your  home  in 
Asheville,  Mr.  Hawleigh,  or  are  you  just  going- 
there  on  a  visit,  as  we  are  ?  ' ' 

Mr.  Hawleigh  smiled,  and  his  eyes  wandered 
to  Ruth,  who  was  just  then  looking  absently  out 
the  opposite  window. 

"  Yes,  my  home  was  in  Asheville,  but  I'm  not 
living  thera  now.  I'm  only  going  there  to  visit 
some  very  dear  friends  and  relations,  and  trust 
I  shall  see  you  quite  often  while  you  are  there. ' ' 

' '  Oh,  I  hope  so.  too,  for  I  like  you  very  much, ' ' 
she  said,  in  her  direct,  impulsive  way,  speaking 
the  thoughts  that  were  in  her  mind. 

''  Well,  I  assure  you,  Nellie,  the  liking  is  ma- 
tual, ''  he  laughed,  then  i-eached  over  and  took 
her  doll  which  lay  upon  her  lap. 

"  What  place  is  this,  Mr.  Hawleigh,''  she 
asked,  with  a  glance  round  at  her  new  friend. 
''  Oh,  Mamma,  do  look  at  that  jet  of  water  fly- 
ing way  up  in  the  air."  Nellie  hung  half  way 
out  the  Aviudow  again,   watching  the  spray. 

''  This  is  Round  Knob,  and  that  fountain  is 
something  of  a  wonder, ' '  he  answered,  enlighten- 
ing her  ignorance.  "  It  throws  a  jet  about  two 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  feet  high,  and  it  is  said 
to  be  the  second  highest  fountain  in  the  world. 
The  water  is  brought  from  a  spring  on  the  top 
of  one  of  those  high  mountains  you  see  over 
there." 

Through  the  liquid   meshes  of  silvery  spray 

12 


170  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

thousands  of  golden  sunbeams  shimmered  and 
twirled  in  prismatic  radiance,  as  bright  and  beau- 
tiful as  foam  bells  on  the  deep,  and  fell  noise- 
lessly in  the  brick  environed  basin  beneath, 
where  the  water  twinkled  in  glancing  brightness. 

"  We  are  crossing  the  mountain  now,  and  if 
you  ladies  care  to  see  one  of  the  grandest  pieces 
of  railroad  engineering  in  the  South  you  will 
have  an  opportunity  to  doso, ''  said  Mr.  Haw- 
leigh  ten  minutes  later. 

As  the  engine  with  its  long  train  of  cars  labored 
slowly  up  and  around  the  mountain,  once  or 
twice  it  seemed  to  stand  perfectly  still,  and  when 
midway  over  the  dizzy,  circling  trestle  work, 
suspended  as  it  were  between  heaven  and  earth, 
Mr.  Hawleigh  made  an  expressive  gesture  with 
his  hand,  without  speaking,  to  another  train  of 
cars,  far  beneath  them,  bearing  its  precious  liv- 
ing freight  of  humanity  up  over  the  perilous 
railway  they  had  just  traversed.  It  was  a  thi-ill- 
ing  sight,  and  one  never  to  be  forgotten. 

As  they  glided  on  to  a  region  of  still  greater 
elevation,  the  air  became  purer  and  more  elastic, 
they  exulted  with  new  life  and  vigor,  and  it 
seemed  that  ten  thousand  glories  and  beauties 
never  seen  or  dreamt  of  before,  delighted  and 
dazzled  the  eye  at  every  turn ;  giant  crags,  steep 
precipices  rising  sheer  and  bold,  fern-clad  gor- 
ges, deep  and  wild,  rushing  torrents  and  foam- 
ing cascades,  all  glistening  resplendent  in  the 
sunlight,  while  out  from  the  emerald  twilight  of 
the  wood,  spicy  fragrance  flung  off  from  hidden 
flowers  was  borne  to  them  on  the  delicious 
mountain  breeze. 

Mr.  Hawleigh  turned  to  Mrs.  Grayson  and 
said,  "  I  suppose  you  have  visited  the  mountains 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  171 

before,  but  Miss  Arnold,  this  is  your  first  visit, 
is  it  not  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes,  to  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina—" 
she  hesitated  as  if  she  intended  to  say  something 
more,  but  suddenly  seemed  to  change  her  mind, 
and  instead,  began  brushing  off  with  her  hand- 
kerchief the  gray  cinders  which  powdered  her 
black  dress.  Then  she  looked  up  with  a  briglit 
smile,  and  said,  ''  Here  are  men's  wonderful 
achiev^ements  side  by  side  with  the  wonderful 
works  of  the  Creator,  but  the  Creator's  works 
rank  far  above  those  of  man.  Surely  we  shall 
see  nothing  finer  or  more  beautiful  than  this.'" 

"■  I  think  you  will  change  your  opinion,  my 
dear,  when  you  have  seen  more  of  our  mountain 
scenery,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  ''and  will,  per 
haps,  wonder  like  thousands  of  others  who,  after 
so  long  a  time,  visit  tliis  palace  of  Nature,  why 
it  is  not  the  favorite  resort  of  all  the  world. ' ' 

While  they  sat  talking,  the  light  of  the  day 
was  suddenly  blotted  out,  and  they  were  left  in 
what  at  first  appeared  utter  darkness.  Nellie 
was  taken  completely  by  surprise  at  the  transi- 
tion, and  with  a  little  scream  she  threw  herself 
forward  and  buried  her  face  in  her  mother's  lap. 
Mrs.  Grayson  bent  over  her  and  explained  the 
cause  of  the  sudden  darkness. 

"  ^Ye  are  passing  a  tunnel,  Nellie,  going- 
through  the  mountain,  and  we'll  be  out  pres- 
ently. Hold  up  your  head  and  see,  my  dear,  that 
it  is  not  so  dark  after  all.  Tiie  porter  lighted  the 
lamps  while  you  were  looking  out  the  window. ' ' 

Nellie  timidly  lifted  her  head  and  glanced  fur- 
tively through  her  fingers,  which  she  still  held 
over  her  eyes,  and,  becoming  used  to  the  dim 
light,  with  a  sigh  of  relief  let  her  hands  drop 


172  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

upon  her  lap.  Then  she  leaned  her  head  back 
against  the  seat  in  a  languid  attitude  and  stared 
up  at  the  pale  light  flickering  through  the  dim 
globes,  and  w^as  perfectly  still  until  they  were 
well  out  of  the  tunnel. 

She  had  been  but  a  few  minutes,  however,  in 
a  comfortable  position,  when  her  attention  was 
attracted  by  the  tumultuous  shouting  and  cheer- 
ing of  many  voices  outside. 

In  an  instant  every  window  and  shutter  which 
had  been  lowered  as  a  protection  against  the  dust 
and  glare  was  hajriedly  thrown  up.  and  every 
head  nearest  the  windows  thrust  out. 

"'  What  is  it?  What  is  the  matter?'"  were  ques- 
tions eagerly  asked  on  all  sides.  As  they  drew 
near  the  station  the  cheering  became  stronger 
and  more  vociferous.  Ruth  turned  and  looked 
inquiringly  at  Mr.  Hawleigh,  who  at  that  mo- 
ment had  withdrawn  his  head  from  the  open 
window. 

''  What  is  it  ?""  she  asked,  in  a  disquieted  tone. 

Just  then  another  shout,  almost  deafening. 
went  up.  "  Three  cheers  for  Zeb.  Vance!  Our 
Zeb!"  The  effect  on  Mr.  Hawleigh,  as  well  as 
the  crowd  and  everyone  in  the  coach,  was  magi- 
cal.    They  seemed  suddenly  galvanized. 

Mr.  Hawleigh  rose  quickly,  a  bright  light  of 
pleasure  flashed  into  his  face;  and  at  the  same 
moment  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Ruth  got  up  also. 

' '  Let  us  go  out  on  the  platform  and  see  North 
Carolina's  greatest  hero — the  'Sage  of  Gom- 
broon ■ — the  uncrowned  king  of  a  noble  people, " 
he  said,  carefully  piloting  them  through  the 
good-natured  crowd  to  a  position  where  they 
could  see  what  was  going  on. 

Upon  the  long  platform  of  the  station-house, 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  17'^ 

atid  in  its  immediate  vicinity  a  large  crowd  had 
gathered — appai'ently  every  person  in  the  little 
village — men.  women  and  children  and  thrii'ty 
farmers  from  the  country  who  happened  to  be 
present  witli  their  market  i)rodnce:  and  in  their 
midst  towered  a  man,  a  splendid  specimen  of 
physical  manhood,  with  iron-gray  hair  and  mus- 
tache, and  a  face  remarkable  for  its  expressive- 
ness, and  for  its  manifold  changefulness  from 
grave  to  gay. 

His  whole  bearing,  like  his  speech,  was  abso- 
lutely free  from  any  hint  of  affectation  and  self- 
consciousness,  and  Ruth  noticed  that  in  his  brief 
intercourse  with  these  people,  the  so-called  com- 
mon people,  who  in  their  excitement  and  enthu- 
siasm seemed  as  though  they  could  not  get  near 
enough  to  him,  he  was  genial,  frank  and  bub- 
bling over  with  good  humor,  perfectly  at  home 
amongst  the  very  humblest  of  them  all. 

Right  here  near  his  own  mountain  home,  Gom- 
broon, he  was  as  popular,  eagerly  sought,  and  as 
heartily  cheered  as  in  the  council  chamber  of  the 
Nation,  where  he  had  won  world-wide  fame  as 
an  orator,  a  politician  and  a  statesman. 

"  How  they  seem  to  love  him,'"  said  Ruth,  as 
they  stood  watching  the  people  crowd  around 
him,  pressing  him  close  on  every  side,  and  all 
eager  to  shake  hands  with  him. 

"  Love  him,""  repeated  Mr.  Hawleigh,  •'  they — 
we  idolize  him.  No  man  was  ever  loved  more 
devoutly,  followed  so  implicitly,  and  none  ever 
swayed  the  masses  so  completely.  Yes,  he  is  the 
idol  of  North  Carolinians.  He  loves  them  and 
they  love  him.  He  is  distinctively  a  man  of  the 
people,  and  is  a  colossal  figure  in  State  affairs. 
Devotion  to  principle  is  the  dominant  trait  of  his 


174  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

character,  aud  he  dares  to  do  right,  regardless  of 
the  consequences.  I  do  not  suppose  there  is  a 
home  within  the  borders  of  the  State,  from  the 
cabin  of  the  poor  to  the  mansion  of  the  rich,  that 
does  not  know  of  and  love  that  man." 

At  that  moment  a  shout  of  laughter  rang  out. 
"  Vance  is  a  true  humorist,  too,"  Mr.  Hawleigh 
said,  smiling ;  " '  and  his  w4t  is  genuinely  origi- 
nal ;  but  still,  however  sportive  he  may  be,  he  is 
never  cynical,  neither  does  he  try  to  hurt  any 
one  by  his  volatile  and  irrepressible  humor.  He 
is  one  of  the  very  few  men  who  live  constantly 
before  the  public,  whose  popularity  has  never 
waned.  In  my  opinion  it  is  simply  because  of 
that  human-heartedness  in  him  which  appeals 
to  the  elementary  feelings  and  instincts,  and 
which  do  not  age  with  the  world.  A  great  man 
like  Zeb.  Vance  grows  greater  with  each  pro- 
ceeding year,  and  the  people's  love  for  such  a 
man  is  stronger  than  their  admiration.  Like;  a 
halo  there  shines  round  him  'the  glory  of  distinc- 
tion obtained — of  brave  deeds  done!'  " 

Ruth  looked  steadily  at  him  and  Hstened  with 
a  deepening  interest — there  was  such  a  fine  sin- 
cerity in  his  tone. 

' '  You  are  indeed  a  most  chivalrous  champion 
of  the  virtues  and  graces  of  your  countryman, 
Mr.  Hawleigh,"  she  said  smiling,  ''but  I'm 
sure  Senator  Vance  is  worthy  of  all  the  res]3ect 
and  adoration  the  people  bestow  upon  him." 

"There  is  no  question  about  that,"  he  an- 
swered, with  decision  and  dignity. 

On  the  present  occasion  Senator  Vance  was 
going  to  Asheville,  aud  as  he  moved  toward  the 
car  the  people  litei^ally  hedged  him  in,  so  reluc- 
tant were  they  to  part  with  him,   and  as  the 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  175 

train  slowly  pulled  out  of  the  station,  round 
after  round  of  hearty  cheers  went  up,  the  de- 
monstration lasting  till  the  train  was  entirely 
out  of  sight. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  Senator  Vance  did  not  come 
into  this  car,  so  you  could  have  seen  more  of 
him,"  said  Mr.  Hawleigh,  when  they  had  re- 
turned to  their  seats. 

"  Do  such  crowds  generally  greet  him  wher- 
ever he  goes  ?  ' '  Euth  asked  wonderingly. 

"  Yes,  he  draws  people  like  a  magnet.  It  is 
only  necessary  for  them  to  hear  his  name — to 
know  that  he  is  present — and  in  a  little  while  he 
is  surrounded,  and  then  it  is  an  ovation.  He  is 
certainly  a  very  wonderful  man." 

"  I  am  not  surprised  that  he  should  be  the 
most  conspicuous  rigure  in  the  State,  to-day," 
said  Euth.  "  I  have  read  that  amusing  little 
incident  which  occurred  some  years  ago — during 
that  famous  interview  between  himself  when 
he  was  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  and  the 
Clover  Qor  of  South  Carolina,  and  now  that  T  have 
seen  Senator  Vance,  I  can  better  appreciate  it." 

Mr.  Hawleigh  laughed.  "  You  allude  to  the 
incident  about  '  a  long  time  between  drinks!' 
Senator  Vance  tells  that  joke  on  himself  with 
inimitable  humor,  and  it  has  passed  into  tradi- 
tion, I  dare  say  to  be  handed  down  to  genera- 
tions to  come." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence,  and  then  Mrs. 
Grayson  said  with  quiet  emphasis — 

''  If  there  is  any  one  thing  which  North  Caro- 
lina should  feel  justly  proud  of,  it  is  her  brilliant 
array  of  distinguished  people  who  were  born  and 
reared  upon  her  soil.  Their  name  is  legion,  and 
it  would  take  volumes  to  recount  their  achieve- 


176  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 

nieuts.  While  many  of  them  have  won  a  na- 
tional reputation,  some  are  known  and  honored 
throughout  the  world,  and  their  lustre  will  re- 
main undimmed  for  many  long  ages  in  the  fu- 
ture. 

She  looked  at  Mr.  Hawleigh  as  she  spoke,  wiro 
gave  her  a  responsive  look  and  smile. 

"  Yes,  and  quite  a  number  of  our  young  men 
in  the  present  day.  too,  are  coming  to  the  front 
and  may  become  celebrities,"  he  said.  "  Every 
year  some  of  our  North  Carolina  boys  carry  off 
the  highest  honors  in  the  foremost  universities 
at  the  North,  and  who  knows  but  that  some  one 
of  these  may  perhaps  in  time  write  the  history 
of  the  dear  old  Commonwealth,  vindicate  her 
honor,  and  place  her  amongst  the  galaxy  of 
States  where  she  rightly  belongs?'' 

"  Why,  have  you  no  written  history  of  your 
State  ?  ' '  Ruth  asked,  with  a  look  of  interested 
surprise,  while  a  flush  of  color  warmed  her  deli- 
cate cheek. 

"  Oh,  yes.  several  well- written  histories,  or 
parts  of  histories,''  Mr.  Hawleigh  responded. 
''  We  have  an  excellent  book  written  by  Dr.  Ly- 
man Draper,  a  gentleman  born  and  reared  at 
the  North.  '  Heroes  of  King's  Mountain,'  is  the 
title  of  it,  and  it  is  a  work  of  great  interest  as 
well  as  merit,  and  represents,  I  am  told,  twenty 
years'  careful  research." 

"  We  still  have  ample  material  for  other  val- 
uable histories,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  ''and  into 
each  should  be  recorded  the  fact  that  the  brave 
people  of  North  Carolina  were  the  first  to  assert 
American  independence — a  fact  that  has  been 
too  well  established  now  to  be  doubted  save  by 
those  who  are  reluctant  to  accredit  any  glory 
and  honor  to  the  Old  North  State." 


IX   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  ITT 

This  last  remark  rpmindod  Kiith  of  a  question 
she  intended  asking  Mr.  Hawleigh  when  they 
were  discussing  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of 
Independence  a  few  moments  before,  and  she 
now  turned  to  him  with  the  query  she  had  in- 
tended putting  to  him.  It  was  about  Charlotte. 
She  had  met  a  Miss  Dinsmore  from  that  city, 
at  Major  Yeamons — a  beautiful  and  charming 
young  lady,  with  whom  she  was  much  pleased. 

"Yes,  Charlotte  is  a  very  delightful  place," 
he  said  ''  and  the  liearts  of  her  refined  and  culti- 
vated people  are  as  warm  and  genial  as  their 
climate." 

"I  should  imagine  so,  if  Miss  Dinsmore  is  a 
fair  representative,"  Ruth  answered,  then 
blushed  a  little  as  Mr.  Hawleigh 's  dark  eyes 
rested  on  her  with  a  look  which,  though  he  was 
unconscious  of  it,  spoke  his  honest  admiration 
of  her  own  beautiful  face.  Turning  to  Mrs. 
Grayson,  he  said,  "  We  shall  soon  be  in  Ashe- 
ville,  now,  Mrs.  Grayson,  but  before  we  part  I 
must  thank  you  and  Miss  Arnold  for  the  social 
kindliness  you  have  shown  me,  and  assure  you 
of  my  happiness  in  knowing  you  both.  During 
your  stay  in  Asheviile.  if  I  can  be  of  service  to 
you  in  any  way,  please  command  me.  You  will 
find  the  number  of  my  address  on  the  card  I 
gave  you." 

Thei^e  was  a  look  of  genuine  pleasure  on  his 
frank,  open  face,  and  a  geniality  in  his  demeanor 
which  convinced  them  of  his  sincerity.  They 
knew  that  his  words  were  not  mere  expression 
of  cold  conventionality,  uttered  because  he  was 
expected  to  say  something  civil  and  appropriate 
on  such  an  occasion,  but  frank,  honest  words  of 
gratification. 


178  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"It  is  we  who  have  cause  to  be  grateful," 
said  Mrs.  Grayson,  "  and  I  hope  we  shall  meet 
you  again." 

Just  then  the  whistle  blew  and  the  porter 
yelled  "  Asheville ! '  •  and  Mrs.  Grayson  rose, 
drawing  on  her  gloves,  with  a  courteous,  gentle 
smile. 

"  I  will  give  myself  the  pleasure  of  calling  on 
you  to-morrow  morning,  if  I  may.  Nellie  tells 
me  that  you  will  be  staying  at  Kenilworth  about 
a  week  ?  ' "  said  Mr.  Hawleigh. 

' '  Yes,  and  we  shall  be  happy  to  have  you  call 
on  us  there — and  to-morrow  morning  will  be 
perfectly  agreeable  to  us, ' '  she  returned  cordially. 

Meanwhile  Julia  had  come  forward  and  gath- 
ered up  their  things  a  ad  followed  in  their  wake 
as  they  slowly  elbowed  their  way  to  the  door. 

"This  way,  if  you  please,"  said  Mr.  Hawleigh, 
taking  the  initiative  and  glancing  back  as  they 
got  off  the  car  in  the  midst  of  the  jostling  crowd 
and  the  yelling  of  the  aggressive  hackmen. 
' '  Here  is  one  of  the  Kenilworth  carriages,  and 
the  porter  will  look  after  your  baggage. ' ' 

After  he  had  assisted  them  in,  and  the  carriage 
started  off,  Nellie  looked  back  and  with  a  gra- 
cious smile  called  out,  ' '  Be  sure  not  to  forget 
your  promise,  Mr.  Hawleigh." 

Then  the  driver  touched  up  the  horses  again 
and  they  soon  disappeared  in  the  midst  of  other 
carriages  and  a  whirlwind  of  dust. 

On  the  following  morning  after  his  meeting 
with  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Euth,  Mr.  Hawleigh, 
agreeable  to  his  promise,  found  him  in  the  Hotel 
Kenilworth,  awaiting  an  answer  to  his  card. 

The  soft  rustle  of  Mrs.  Grayson's  dress,  as  she 


DT    THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  179 

entered  the  room  at  that  moment,  accompanied 
by  Ruth,  caused  Mr.  Hawleigh  to  turn,  and  he 
rose  at  once  and  aj^proached  them. 

"  We  were  expecting  you,  Mr.  Hawleigh,  and 
it  is  so  kind  of  you  to  come,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson. 
' '  We  have  just  been  arranging  for  a  drive  about 
the  city,  and  I  shall  be  pleased  to  have  you  go 
with  us,  if  it  is  not  taking  up  too  much  of  your 
time." 

"I  shall  be  most  happy.  I  am  only  sorry 
that  you  forestalled  my  purpose  and  supplied  the 
entertainment.     I  had — " 

"  The  carriage  is  waiting  your  pleasure, 
Madam,"  the  colored  servant  announced  from 
the  doorway  at  this  moment,  interrupting  him. 

"  You  must  come  to  see  us  again,"  Nellie  said 
a  few  hours  later  to  Mr.  Hawleigh,  as  he  was 
bidding  them  good-bye.  Mrs.  Grayson  stood- 
holding  her  guest's  hand,  while  Ruth  stood  by 
unconsciously  taking  off  her  gloves.  "  I  do  not 
know  just  how  long  we  will  be  in  your  city,  Mr. 
Hawleigh,  but  I  hope  we  shall  see  more  of  you 
before  we  go,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson.  "I  hope 
the  day  has  been  a  very  pleasant  one  for  us  all. " 

''  Now  we'll  go  to  our  room,"  she  continued, 
turning  to  Ruth  and  Nellie  after  Mr.  Hawleigh 
had  left.  "  Nellie  must  take  a  nap  before  dili- 
ner,  and  meanwhile  I  will  write  to  Ralph  and 
Carl,  and  let  them  know  that  we  are  safe  and 
well  in  '  The  T.and  of  the  Sky. ' 


55 


180  UNDER    GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XV. 

It  was  one  warm  afternoon  about  the  middle 
of  August,  and  the  monotonous  buzzing  of  in- 
sects filled  the  air  with  their  never-ceasing  mu- 
sic, that  Mrs.  Gi-ayson  and  her  little  party 
reached  the  Haywood  White  Sulphur  Springs  in 
time  for  a  late  dinner. 

They  had  been  spending  several  weeks  visit- 
ing some  of  the  most  popular  summer  resorts  in 
the  mountains. 

As  they  drove  through  the  beautiful  grounds, 
up  the  broad  carriage  way,  and  stopped  in  front 
of  the  commodious  hotel,  their  appearance 
excited  the  usual  complement  of  remarks,  and 
they  received  the  usual  amount  of  well-bred 
staring  bestowed  upon  all  new  comers  from  the 
gay,  laughing  group  assembled  on  the  long  ver- 
andas and  upon  the  shady  lawn. 

One  quickly  slips  into  the  purposeless  routine 
of  watering-place  life,  with  its  charming  air  of 
do-nothing  gayety,  movement,  languid  stir,  and 
ease  which  pervades  such  places. 

That  afternoon  Mrs.  Grayson,  Ruth  and  Nellie 
went  out  on  the  law^n  and  sat  under  one  of  the 
large  shade  trees,  near  where  an  animated 
game  of  lawn  tennis  was  in  progress. 

About  the  prettily  shaded  springs  lively  groups 
of  young  people  were  gathered,  and  detachments 
of  children  strolled  hither  and  thither  in  un- 
molested freedom,  while  in  the  shady  retreats  all 
about  the  grounds,  bright  colored  hammocks 
were  slung,  and  their  occupants  read,  or  idly 
lounged,  tilting  in  the  delicious  breeze. 

"Surely  this  must  be  the  real  Arcadia, "said 
Ruth. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  181 

''I  ani  glad  you  are  not  disappointed  in  the 
place,-'  said  Mrs.  Grayson.  Then  added  thought- 
fully, "  I  think  now  we  will  remain  here  until 
the  last  of  the  month,  and  then  return  home. 
That  will  give  you  ample  time  to  get  ready  for 
school — that  is,  if  you  do  not  mind." 

"I  am  sure  it  is  very  good  of  you,  Mrs.  Gray- 
son, to  consider  my  pleasure  and  convenience. 
Certainly,  I  shall  not  mind  staying  at  all.  I 
fancy  there  is  more  danger  of  my  wishing  to  pro- 
long these  delightful  days  indefinitely  when  we 
get  ready  to  leave,"  said  Ruth  brightly. 

Ruth  noticed  among  the  gay  figures  flashing 
here  and  there  over  the  lawn  a  group  of  persons — 
two  ladies  and  two  gentlemen — who  seemed  en- 
gaged in  animated  discussion  about  the  game  in 
which  they  had  participated.  One  of  the  ladies 
was  laughing  and  talking  with  elaborate  vivac- 
ity, and  as  they  drifted  near,  Ruth  thought  she 
half  recognized  one  of  the  gentlemen,  the  smal- 
ler of  the  two,  when  almost  immediatelv  a  burst 
of  feminine  laughter  caused  Nellie  to  turn  sud- 
denly round,  give  a  start,  and  eagerly  exclaim  on 
the  spur  of  the  moment  as  she  ran  forward: 
''Well,  1*11  declare!  There^s  Mr.  Hawleigh! 
Wheie  did  you  come  from  ?  and  how  long  have 
you  been  here?  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you,"  she 
said,  all  in  one  hurried  breath,  as  she  grasped  his 
hand,  and  not  giving  him  time  to  answer.  He 
greeted  her  cordially,  then  taking  off  his  hat, 
approached  Mrs.  Grayson,  his  manner  eager  and 
animated. 

"  Mrs.  Grayson,  this  is  indeed  an  unexpected 
pleasure.  Miss  Arnold, "  *  he  said,  turning  to  her 
with  the  same  deferential  ease  and  grace,  prof- 
fering his  hand  "  I  am  very  glad  to  meet  you 
again." 


182  UNDER    GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

He  glanced  toward  the  fiiends  from  whom  lie 
had  quite  suddenly  detached  himself,  conscious 
of  the  courtesy  due  them,  but  unavoidably  with- 
held— then  said,  looking  at  Mrs.  Grayson,  ''  I 
should  be  pleased  to  introduce  them,  if  you  will 
allow  me.'' 

"  I  shall  be  pleased  to  know  them,''  she  said. 
They  stepped  a  few  paces  near  the  group,  and 
Mr.  Hawleigh  said,  "  Miss  Rivers,  permit  me  to 
introduce  you  to  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Miss  Arnold. '' 
The  other  lady  was  standing  a  little  apart,  talk- 
ing to  Nellie,  but  looked  up  just  at  that  moment 
and  he  added,  "  Miss  Exum — Mrs.  Grayson  and 
Miss  Arnold. ' '  Then  turning  to  the  gentleman 
who  had  been  watching  the  introductions  vvith 
that  air  of  polite  interest  that  one  involuntarily 
assumes  on  a  like  occasion,  Mr.  Hawleigh  con- 
tinued, ' '  My  friend,  Mr.  Rivers. ' '  As  soon  as 
the  exchange  of  civilities  had  been  disposed  of, 
Mrs.  Grayson  led  the  way  to  the  seats  which  she 
and  Ruth  had  just  vacated,  and  they  all  sat 
down. 

They  had  not  been  talking  a  great  while  be- 
fore Ruth  discovered  that  Miss  Rivers  and  Miss 
Exum  were  thorough-going  society  young  ladies, 
and  had  whiled  away  the  greater  part  of  the  sum- 
mer season  down  by  the  waves  of  several  fashion- 
able seaside  resorts,  and  were  now  bidding  adieu 
to  the  fascinations  of  this  mountain  watering- 
place,  preparatory  to  their  return  home — Miss 
Rivers  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  Miss 
Exum  to  Atlanta.  Georgia.  These  personal 
facts,  and  others,  had  been  involuntarily  con- 
veyed in  the  course  of  the  general  small  talk 
which  followed. 

As  the  conversation  progessed  from  one  topic 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  183 

to  another,  Euth  had  been  taking  mental  photo- 
graphs of  her  new  acquaintances.  Just  then 
she  furled  her  fan  and  laid  it  upon  her  lap, 

' '  It  has  been  oppressively  warm  all  day, ' '  she 
observed  to  Mr.  Hawleigh,  sitting  near  her. 

"Yes,  it  has  indeed;  quite  tropical.  By  the 
way,  I  am  reminded  to  ask  you,  Miss  Arnold,  if 
you  are  one  of  the  '  sunrise  worshipers, '  "  he 
said,  smiling. 

Euth  opened  her  eyes  wide  and  looked  up  to 
see  what  he  meant,  and  then  smiled  too. 

"  Oh,  you  mean,  have  I  witnessed  a  sunrise 
since  I've  been  in  the  mountains  ?  I  am  sorry  to 
say  that  I  have  not,  but  the  opportunity  and  not 
the  inclination  has  been  lacking.  Invariably, 
something  has  happened  every  time  that  we 
have  planned  to  see  one. ' ' 

"  0,  then  you  must  by  all  means  join  our 
party  and  go  with  us  to  Hiawatha's  Heights.  It 
is  said  that  the  sunrise  from  that  point  is  per- 
fectly grand  and  bewildering,"  said  Miss  Exum. 
She  turned  to  Mr.  Elvers.  ' '  Has  it  been  decided 
that  we  go  to-morrow  morning?  You  know 
we've  delegated  you  master  of  ceremonies  of  the 
'  Sunrise  Expedition.'  " 

"  I  don't  think  it  has  been  quite  settled  yet. 
whether  we  go  to-morrow  morning  or  the  one 
following.  If  I  can  succeed  in  getting  the  don- 
keys, and  the  weather  is  favorable,  I  know  of 
nothing  else  to  the  contrary.  Mrs.  Grayson,  we 
shall  be  pleased  to  have  you  and  Miss  Arnold  go 
with  us,  should  I  be  fortunate  enough  to  per- 
fect our  plans  for  the  trip.'" 

"How  kind!  We  shall  be  pleased  to  join 
you." 

At  that  instant  a  slender,  handsome  gentle- 


KS4  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

maa  with  blonde  hair  and  mustache  approached 
them.  He  was  smoking  a  cigar,  and  sauntered 
along  with  a  bright,  careless  air.  Miss  Rivers 
gave  a  quick  glance  at  Maud  Exum,  who  pre- 
tended not  to  see  this  addition  to  their  party. 

"  Just  in  time  to  help  us  out  of  a  difficulty, 
Charlie,''  said  Mr.  Rivers,  as  the  person  ad- 
dressed as  ' '  Charlie  ' '  came  up. 

"■  Pardon  my  intrusion,"  he  said  hastily,  hft- 
ing  his  hat  and  addressing  the  little  company. 
"  I  was  not  aware  there  were  strangers  with 
you."  This  to  Mr.  Rivers,  and  he  glanced  at 
Mrs.  Grayson  and  Ruth.  Thereupon  Mr.  Rivers 
presented  him  to  the  latter  two  ladies,  and  soon 
he  glided  into  place  and  the  conversation  with 
that  ease  and  aptitude  that  people  in  society 
naturally  fall  into  in  making  new  acquaintances. 

As  they  leisurely  wended  their  way  back  to 
the  hotel,  cool,  playful  winds  swept  from  the 
mountain  peaks,  now  bathed  in  the  radiance  of 
the  setting  sun,  and  frolicked  across  the  lawn 
powdered  with  tiny  gold  blossoms  and  dappled 
with  shadows,  then  drifted  lazily  away  over 
darkling  plains  and  valleys  in  remote  distances. 

On  the  long  veranda,  handsomely  dressed  peo- 
ple in  the  coolest  and  freshest  of  toilets  chatted 
and  promenaded  while  the  band  played  a  bril- 
liant waltz,  and  from  within  came  the  sound  of 
merry  lite  and  laughter. 

"  Oh,  here  you  are,"  a  voice  exclaimed  jaun- 
tily from  the  upper  veranda,  at  the  same  mo- 
ment pelting  Mr.  Rivers  with  a  bouquet  of  wild 
flowers,  as  he  and  Ruth  Arnold  ascended  the 
steps.  He  threw  back  his  head  and  looked  up 
smiling,  hoping  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  fair 
madcap,  but  she  had  vanished. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  185 

"  Well,  unfortunately,  I'm  not  seer  enough  to 
know  if  the  floral  pelting  was  intended  as  a  com- 
pliment or  as  a  drubbing,"  he  laughed,  examin- 
ing the  flowers. 

''Looking  for  a  card,  Rivers?"  a  masculine 
voice  facetiously  called  out  across  the  veranda 
from  among  the  loungers.  "  Better  accept  them 
on  good  faith,  and  ask  no  questions,"  said  the 
same  voice. 

There  was  a  general  laugh  at  Mr.  Rivers'  ex- 
pense, in  which  he  joined. 

"Don't  be  jealous,  Frank,"  he  returned 
blithely,  shaking  the  flowers  at  him  and  rather 
touched  out  of  his  habitual  haugthy  reserve. 
'•  I've  got  an  exquisite  bouquet,  at  any  rate." 

At  this  time  Miss  Exum  and  Mr.  Hawkins 
came  up  in  time  to  enjoy  the  joke  about  the 
flowers,  there  was  more  talking  and  bantering 
among  themselves,  and  then  the  ladies  separated 
to  go  to  their  respective  apartments  to  make  a 
hurried  toilet  for  supper. 

'•  Don't  forget,  Miss  x\rnold!  early  to-morrow 
morning!"  caUed  back  Miss  Exum,  wishing  to 
say  something  to  Ruth — then  she  threw  her  a 
kiss  and  a  gay  ' '  au  revoir, ' '  and  ran  lightly  up 
stairs,  humming  as  she  went  snatches  from  that 
pretty,  sentimental  song,   '  *  I  promise  thee. ' ' 


13 


186  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

At  a  wonderfully  early  hour  the  next  morn- 
ing the  little  party  was  astir.  An  air  of  bustle 
and  preparation  pervaded  the  hotel,  or  that  part 
of  it  where  the  excursionists  were  gathered  mak- 
ing arrangements  to  depart. 

They  arrived  at  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
in  due  season  and  without  misadventure,  and 
while  waiting  for  the  sunrise  hour  the  gentle- 
men busied  themselves  in  improvising  a  camp 
and  lighting  the  camp  fire. 

They  were  still  gathered  about  this,  chatting 
and  laughing,  when  Mrs.  Grayson,  who  had 
been  intently  watching  the  east  for  the  first  sign 
of  sunrise,  now  directed  their  attention  to  the 
pale  streak  of  light  which  lay  along  the  edge  of 
the  horizon.  With  an  apparent  simultaneity  of 
action,  each  one  turned  his  face  toward  the  east. 

"  I  believe  we  shall  have  a  fine  sunrise,  after 
all,"  she  said ;  "and  just  such  a  one  as  we  hoped 
to  witness.  How  fortunate  we  are  to  have  come 
to-day." 

' '  But  just  look  at  the  fog.  Mamma !  ' '  cried 
Nellie  in  a  tone  of  disappointment.  "  We  can't 
see  a  thing  for  that. ' ' 

' '  That  mist  is  cloud,  Nellie, ' '  said  Mr.  Haw- 
leigh,  drawing  Nellie  in  front  of  him  and  laying 
his  hands  lightly  upon  her  shoulders;  "and 
when  the  sun  comes  up  it  will  pass  away  and 
you  will  see  one  of  the  loveliest  sights  in  all  the 
State — rugged  mountains,  limpid  lakes,  soft 
sylvan  scenery  and  wooded  island. ' ' 

"  Oh,  do  look!"  exclaimed  Miss  Exum  enthu- 
siastically, pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  flash- 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  187 

ing  radiance  and  appealing  to  the  little  company. 
"  Yonder  comes  the  laz}^  old  king  at  last,  and 
he's  coming  in  gorgeous  pomp  and  splendor,  too. 
How  grand!" 

They  all  stood  gazing  in  wonder  and  admira- 
tion at  the  sunrise  glow  which  was  widening 
and  growing  brighter  and  brighter  every  mo- 
ment. Now  and  then  some  one  of  them  would 
burst  forth  into  ecstacies  and  then  sink  into 
silence.  As  they  gazed  entranced,  the  sunrise 
came — the  most  gorgeous  sunrise  their  eyes  had 
ever  beheld,  and  one  whose  pageant  no  future 
glory  on  earth  could  ever  efface  from  memory. 
A  common  awe  seemed  to  pervade  every  heart, 

A  long,  hesitating,  quivering  ray  of  light  shot 
forward  until  it  touched  the  star  that  burned  in 
the  zenith.  The  stai-  paled  in  splendor,  and  the 
lesser  ones  faded  one  by  one.  Then  wave  after 
wave  of  light,  tinted  with  prismatic  radiance, 
surged  up  from  the  crimson  glories  of  the  east, 
filling  the  enchanting  prospect  with  its  luminous 
glory.  As  a  mighty  monarch  returns  from  vic- 
tory with  his  glittering  cohort  of  warriors,  so 
the  sun  was  now  followed  and  surrounded,  but 
unobscured  by  clouds  of  every  shape  and  tinted 
with  every  hue.  Massive  rays  of  light  pierced 
them  like  flaming  swords  of  cherubim,  and 
glowed  beyond  and  above  them  in  the  sky  with 
blinding  splendor. 

"I  believe  I  could  watch  that  scene  of  enchant- 
ment forever,"  said  Miss  Exum  with  delight, 
her  eyes  dilating  wide.  "  It  is  more  stupendous 
and  beautiful  than  my  most  vivid  fancy  ever 
pictured  the  works  of  eastern  genii,  even."' 

"  I  am  forcibly  reminded  of  the  vision  of  the 
Christians   triumph,  and   the   Celestial   City," 


188  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

said  Mrs.  Grayson.  "It  seems  to  me  that  I 
never  before  enjoyed  such  glorious  thoughts  of 
the  happy  dawning  of  the  last  day. ' ' 

"Are  we  really  above  the  clouds,  Mr.  Haw- 
leigh  ? ""  asked  Nellie,  with  some  misgiving  in 
her  tone. 

"  Indeed,  we  are.  But  you  needn't  be  afraid, 
Nellie.  Now,  look  yonder  where  the  mist  is 
moving,  just  like  great  billows  of  distant  water 
rolling  in  the  sunshine.  Isn't  it  lovely  ?  Let  us 
suppose  that  the  '  Maid  of  the  Mist '  is  cruising 
there  in  her  phantom  ship — " 

"  Or  that  the  ghost  of  some  Indian  warrior 
whose  savage  war-cry  has  drowned  the  murmur 
of.  the  bright  waters,  cleft  b}^  the  keel  of  his 
birch -bark  canoe,  is  cruising  alongside  of  her," 
laughed  Miss  Exum.  "  I'd  like  to  think  so, 
wouldn't  you,  httle  Nell  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  down  there 
with  them."  said  Nellie,  looking  out  over  the 
mist  which  was  curling  away  in  golden  wreaths. 

"  Miss  Arnold,  did  you  ever  see  anything  so 
gloriously  grand  and  beautiful  as  that?"  Mr. 
Hawleigh  turned  to  Ruth  with  a  sudden  motion, 
and  her  beautiful  eyes  were  solemn  and  full  of 
thought,  and  showed  that  her  whole  soul  was 
absorbed  in  the  sublimity  of  the  scene. 

''  I  find  myself  at  a  loss  to  express  my  delight, 
so  I  keep  silent.  I  only  wish  that  I  might  re- 
tain an  impression  of  this  picture,  as  I  now  see 
it,  as  long  as  I  live.  It  is  as  my  guardian.  Dr. 
Leslie,  told  me — no  pen  can  describe,  nor  any 
artist  paint  it — the  indefinable  charm  of  the  ex- 
altation would  be  left  out."  She  spoke  with  a 
dreamy  remoteness  of  tone,  and  there  was  a 
soft,   sad  dreaminess  in  her  lovely  eyes.     Mr. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  Isy 

Hawleigh  could  not  help  gazing  admiringly  into 
the  bright.  insi)ired,  upturned  face — a  face 
which  charmed  him  irresistibly,  though  it 
roused  no  softer  feeling  than  that  of  admiration 
of  its  beauty. 

Miss  Exum  interrupted  his  glowing  reverie 
with  a  bright  face  and  a  winning  appeal. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Hawleigh,  doesn't  your  muse  feel 
the  inspiration  of  the  moment,  and  won't  you 
recite  something  appropriate  to  the  occasion?  " 

"  I'm  not  a  poet.  Miss  Maud,"  he  answered, 
with  a  laugh  of  evasion.  '"  I  was  just  thinking 
how  like  this  is  to  human  existence,"  waving 
his  hand  toward  the  scene  before  him. 

"Well,  I  am  thinking  about  the  poetry  of  it," 
she  said  flippantly.  Haven't  I  read  some  verses 
that  you've  published — I'm  quite  sure  I  have 
somewhere.  Let  me  think — where  did  I  see 
them  ?  0,  pshaw,  I  can't  recall  just  now ;  but 
never  mind,  I  saw  them,"  she  said.  ''  But  if 
you  are  too  modest  to  give  us  something  origi- 
nal, suppose  you  recite  something  from  your  fa- 
vorite poet, ' '  she  persisted. 

"  I  have  several,"  he  admitted,  calmly  smil- 
ing. 

''  Oh,  dear,  you  are  incorrigible.  Well,  let 
me  suggest  Wordsworth,  or  Bryant,  or  Longfel- 
low— the  last  two  are  among  my  favorites." 

"  Next  to  possessing  '  the  faculty  divine,  to 
scatter  flowers  along  one's  path,  and  lift  one's 
gaze  to  the  stars, '  as  did  your  gifted  favorites,  I 
should  be  most  happy  to  oblige  you.  Miss  Maud, 
but  frankly,  I  must  confess,  I'm  unequal  to  com- 
plying with  your  request.  It  seems  to  me  that 
when  we  have  the  vividness  and  splendor  of  the 
reality  before  us,  we  do  not  need  the  dazzling 


190  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

gloAV  of  the  imagination  to  light  it  up,  as  it 
were. ' ' 

' '  Perhaps  not, ' '  she  sighed,  with  reserved  re- 
grets as  she  turned  away  to  take  a  last  look  at 
the  prospect  at  which  the  others  were  still 
gazing.  Just  at  that  moment  a  hunter's  horn 
sounded  with  a  resonant  note  over  the  Alpine- 
like hills,  followed  by  the  baying  of  several  deer 
'hounds,  giving  tongue  lustily,  drawing  nearer 
and  yet  nearer,  and  running  as  though  straining 
themselves  with  game  in  sight.  Suddenly  the 
music  of  the  dogs  and  horn  seemed  to  stop,  but 
presently  rose  again  on  a  distant  plateau — the 
next  moment  it  was  lost  in  the  valley  below. 

Miss  Exum  began  to  hum  softly  to  herself, 
' '  Kathleen  Mavourneen. ' ' 

' '  Do  you  know,  I  never  hear  the  sound  of  a 
hunter's  horn  or  the  bay  of  a  dog  in  the  early 
morning  that  that  song  doesn't  flash  into  my 
mind  ?  ''  sh  asid,  a  quick  color  coming  into  her 
face.  "  I  think  it  is  one  of  the  very  sweetest 
little  ballads  I  ever  heard,  and  it  should  never 
get  too  old-fashioned  to  be  sung,  though  one 
rarely  hears  it  now-a-days.  Somehow  its  pathos 
touches  me.  and  makes  me  strangely  sad." 

' '  Yes,  I  like  it,  too, ' '  he  said,  ' '  but  I  do  not 
ko5vn  that  it  affects  me  in  that  way.  When  we 
return  to  the  hotel  I  should  be  glad  if  you  will 
play  and  sing  it  for  me.'' 

"Piano  or  guitar — which  shall  it  be,"  she 
asked  quickly,  with  a  conscious  blush. 

''  Either."  Then  added,  '"I'm  glad  we  didn't 
prolong  our  slumbers  as  did  the  indolent  Kath- 
leen, or  we  should  have  missed  the  dazzling 
glories  of  this  enchanted  hour.  See  yonder !  Do 
you  want  sublimer  poetry,  or  a  more  magnifi- 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  191 

cent  picture  than  that  ?  It  ahnost  takes  one's 
breath  away,  and  I  do  feel  inpsired  at  this  mo- 
ment to  repeat  these  hnes  of  Bryant : 

•'  My  heart  is  awed  within  me  when  I  think 
Of  the  great  miracle  that  still  goes  on. 
In  silence,  round  me — the  perpetual  work 
Of  thy  creation,  finished,  yet  renewed 
Forever.     Written  on  thy  works  I  read 
The  lesson  of  thy  own  eternity." 

"  Those  lines  are  from  Bryant's  '  Forest 
Hymn, '  are  they  not '? ' '  she  asked. 

* '  Yes.  I  wish  I  could  remember  all  of  it, ' ' 
he  said,  and  then  they  relapsed  into  silence. 

Faintly  mingling  with  the  far-off  skies,  the 
blue  of  the  mountains  outlined  the  panorama 
like  a  halo  of  encircling  sublimity ;  the  valleys 
of  distant  rivers  bordered  with  trees  seemed  like 
threads  of  silken  green  leading  the  eye  toward 
the  sea,  till  they  vanished  from  view;  town  after 
town  dotted  the  vast  landscape;  hundreds  of 
plantations  blended  their  various  lights  and 
shades;  mighty  forests,  whose  shadowy  haunts 
only  the  footsteps  of  the  Indian  braves  had  pen- 
etrated, as  they  roamed  in  quest  of  game,  while 
gorgeous  masses  of  golden  vapor  towered  above 
the  remote  mountain  crests  until  the  abyss  of 
heaven  had  swallowed  up  their  forms. 

"  There  is  something  peculiarly  inspiring  in 
those  vast  depths  of  air,"  said  Mr.  Rivers,  "and 
I  cannot  help  wondering  if  people  living  in  this 
'  Land  of  the  Sky'  can  be  actuated  by  any  sordid 
motive." 

'*  I  don't  know  about  that,  but  I  do  know  I 
feel  actuated  by  a  yearning  toward  the  source 
of  supply, ' '  laughed  Miss  Exum ;  ' '  for  I  am 
ravenously  hungry.  This  atmosphere  is  just 
like  a  tonic,  and  if  it  has  affected  the  rest  of  you 


192  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OJt, 

as  it  has  me,  I.  have  my  doubts  if  we'll  have 
enough  lunch  to  go  round. ' ' 

"  If  you  will  all  come  now,  we  will  go  to  the 
carriage  and  have  lunch,"  Mrs.  Grayson  said, 
"  and  afterwards,  I  think  we'll  be  quite  ready 
to  return  home. ' ' 

"  Mrs.  Grayson,  it  is  most  fortunate  that  we 
have  you  with  us.  You  have  consideration  to 
the  last  degree,  and  we  are  certainly  indebted  to 
you  for  your  forethought,"  said  Mr.  Hawkins. 
"  I  had  forgotten  all  about  the  lunch." 

The  party  at  the  table  had  broken  up  inta 
laughing,  chattering  groups,  and  were  strolling 
about  the  ground  enjoying  themselves  in  their 
several  different  ways. 

The  fragments  of  the  repast  had  been  gathered 
together,  packed  in  the  hamper  and  returned  to 
the  carriage. 

Suddenly,  on  the  stillness,  there  broke  a  low, 
rumbling  sound,  resembling  the  distant  roar  of 
artillery,  drawing  nearer  in  subdued  force,  then 
gradually  retreating,  while  upon  Nature  there  fell 
a  strange,  still  calm  which  awed  creation  into 
instinctive  silence,  and  then  she  seemed  to  hold 
her  breath  and  listen.  Involuntarily,  everyone 
paused  and  looked  upward  at  the  cloudless  sky, 
unchanged,  serene  and  beautiful. 

"  Do  you  think  we  are  going  to  have  a 
storm  ?  ' '  Miss  Rivers  asked,  with  a  grave  face, 
looking  at  Mr.  Hawleigh;  "I  can't  see  even  a 
floating  cloud." 

' '  Yes,  I  think  we  are, ' '  he  replied,  ' '  and  the 
best  thing  for  us  to  do  is  to  get  down  the  moun- 
tain as  soon  as  possible.  I  can  tell  you  these 
mountain  showers  mean  business,  and  we  might 
as  well  stand  under  a  waterfall  as  to  have  their 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  193 

contents  emptied  upon  our  heads.  We'd  better 
go  back  to  the  carriage.  I  see  the  driver  has 
put  to  the  horses,  and  there,  Mrs.  Grayson  is 
beckoning  to  us.  Miss  Maud.  I  will  suggest 
that  you  take  my  seat  in  the  carriage  and  I  will 
ride  your  horse,  and  Miss  Arnold — ''  he  stopped 
— "  could  you  both  manage  one  seat,  and  I 
would  lead  the  horse  ?  '' 

"Dear  me.  no,"'  Miss  Exam  said,  laughing 
merrily.  "  I  couldn't  think  of  doing  such  a 
thing.  Why,  it  will  be  glorious  fun  to  get  a 
good  drenching,  and  since  I've  already  ruined 
my  dress  it  doesn't  matter  in  the  least." 

"  But  your  health,  Maud — that  is  much  more 
important  than  your  dress.  You  should  take 
care  of  your  health,  if  nothing  else.  Now,  do 
be  sensible  and  listen  to  reason,"  catechised  Miss 
Eivers,  with  an  earnestness  Maud  had  never 
known  her  to  manifest  in  another's  interest  be- 
fore. But  nothing  she  could  say  moved  Maud 
from  her  purpose.  She  looked  up  again,  scan- 
ning the  heavens  and  shading  her  eyes  with  her 
hand  from  the  dazzling  sun. 

"  Indeed,  I  have  no  sort  of  faith  in  the  ex- 
pected storm.  We'll  be  at  the  Springs  long  be- 
fore it  comes;  at  any  rate,  I  am  willing  to  risk 
it,  for  it  would  be  too  bad  that  I  should  lose  my 
horseback  ride.  Here  comes  Mr.  Hawkins  now 
with  my  horse,  and  Mr.  Eivers  and  Miss  Ar- 
nold are  ready  mounted  and  waiting  for  us." 

"  So  we'll  leave  you  to  the  tender  mercies  of 
the  elements,  and  shall  expect  you  to  report  to 
us  later  on.  Best  wishes,"  said  Mr.  Hawleigh, 
and  with  a  smiling  nod,  he  and  Miss  Rivers  hur- 
ried off  to  the  carriage. 

"  I  came  back  as  soon  as  I  could,"  Mr.  Haw- 


194:  UNDKR    GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

kins  said,  after  he  had  dismounted,  and  looking 
down  at  Maud  with  handsome,  dancing  eyes; 
then,  quickly  tossing  the  bridles  over  the 
horses'  necks,  he  left  them  to  their  own  devices 
and  came  up  to  her. 

'•What  if  it  should  rain,  Maud?''  he  said, 
glancing  up  at  the  sky.  "  I  was  about  to  sug- 
gest that  you  go  in  the  carriage,  for  I  would  not 
have  you  get  a  ducking  and  then  get  sick  as  a 
reason  of  it.     I  should  never  forgive  myself." 

"No.  I'm  not  going  in  the  carriage  unless  you 
wish  to  get  rid  of  me,  and  are  not  willing  to  ac- 
cept the  responsibility  of — "  she  hesitated  with  a 
pretty  pout,  then  looked  up  at  him  with  smiling 
innocence. 

Charlie  Haw^kins  laughed.  "  Ah,  you  know 
better,  Maud,  ^ou  couldn't  say  it — and — 
don't — try  to  think  it." 

A  few  moments  they  stood  facing  the  radiant, 
sun-filled  east,  while  its  refulgent  glory  fell 
around  them,  and  turned  to  rings  of  gold  Maud's 
sunny  forehead  curls. 

••'  See,  they  have  left  us,  and  we  are  all  alone 
in  the  sublime  solitude  of  the  mountains."  She 
smiled,  and  pointed  to  the  spot  where  the  retreat- 
ing party  had  lately  been. 

Without  a  word  he  brought  the  horses  forward, 
stooped  and  lifted  her  to  the  saddle,  and,  as  they 
were  leaving  the  majestic  scene  behind,  he  said — 

"  Look  back,  Maud,  and  let  us  never  forget 
this  lovely  spot.  I  have  found  my  Minnehaha 
and  you  your  Hiawatha. " 

' '  There  is  no  danger  I  shall  ever  forget, ' '  she 
said,  smiling.  And  then  he  slowly  repeated,  as 
they  descended  the  mountain  slope — 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  195 

"  As  unto  the  bow  the  cord  is, 
So  unto  the  man  is  woman  ; 
Though  she  bends  him  she  obeys  him, 
Tliough  she  draws  him,  yet  she  follows 
Useless  each  without  the  other." 

The  sun  was  shining  gloriously  in  the  valley 
below. 


196  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

That  evening  a  brilliant  reception,  the  last  of 
the  season,  was  given  by  a  number  of  young 
men  in  honor  of  the  lady  visitors  at  the  Springs. 
The  spacious  dining-room,  which  had  been  tem- 
porarily converted  into  a  reception-room,  was 
beautifully  and  elaborately  decorated  for  the 
occasion  with  exquisite  floral  designs  and  ever- 
greens, while  great  palms  in  ornamental  pots 
were  artistically  arranged  about  the  music  stand. 

It  was  at  a  rather  late  hour,  when  Miss  Exum. 
attired  in  gauzy  silvery  draperies  of  white  and 
blue  artfully  combined,  and  which  left  her  white 
throat  and  arms  bare,  knocked  at  Miss  Rivers" 
door,  waited,  then  knocked  again,  but  receiving- 
no  answer,  and  presuming  that  the  maid  was 
still  busying  herself  with  her  mistress'  toilet,, 
turned  and  descended  the  broad  stairs.  In  the 
brightly  lighted  hall  below  she  found  Mr.  Haw- 
kins eagerly  awaiting  her  appearance.  The 
sound  of  gay  laughter  and  throbbing  music 
floated  out  on  the  warm  fragrant  air,  penetrat- 
ing her  with  its  sweet  pathos  and  kindling  a 
keener  appetite  for  present  pleasures  and  enjoy- 
ment, and  unconsciously  she  nodded  her  pretty 
head  with  an  air  of  profound  appreciation. 

' '  Welcome  at  last ! ' '  Mr.  Hawkins  said,  his 
eyes  all  aglow  with  youthful  gladness,  and  his 
lips  curled  with  a  gay  smile  at  the  sight  of  the 
nymphlike  vision  w^hich  floated  down  before 
him. 

"  I  reproach  myself  for  having  exhausted 
your  patience,"  she  said  gaily,  greeting  him. 
"  Do  forgive  me." 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  197 

''  Oh,  that  is  all  right  now  that  you've 
come,"'  he  said  brightly.  "  Now  we'll  finish  the 
day  so  auspiciously  begun,  with  music,  moon- 
light and  merry-making."  He  drew  her  gloved 
hand  through  his  arm,  holding  the  fragile  fin- 
gers close  in  his,  and  turned  toward  the  veranda, 
which  was  already  invaded  ^ith  scores  of  young 
people  promenading  and  chatting  and  flitting  in 
and  out  through  the  open  windows.  She  stopped 
suddenly,  and  with  a  brilliant  smile,  held  up  h<^r 
disengaged  hand,  and  made  a  sign  of  negation. 

"  No,  not  now.  Let  us  go  into  the  reception- 
room  and  indulge  in  its  '  foibles  and  follies  and 
frailties.'  " 

Never  before  did  Maud's  joyous  spirit  have 
freer  reins — never  before  did  she  so  completely 
surrender  herself  to  the  fleeting  pleasures  of  the 
hour;  never  before  had  she  been  so  intoxicated 
and  held  in  delightful  subjection  by  music  and 
motion,  and  when,  an  hour  later,  after  dancing 
set  after  set  with  different  partners,  Mr.  Haw- 
kins returned  to  claim  another  waltz,  she  laugh- 
ingly declared  that  she  could  not  take  another 
step — that  she  was  satiated  at  last,  even  with 
the  charm  of  the  waltz,  the  melody  of  music, 
the  fragrance  of  the  flowers ;  but  she  gladly  took 
his  arm  and  strolled  on  the  moonlit  veranda, 
leaving  the  subdued  hum  and  murmur  of  voices 
and  the  empty  pleasures  of  the  reception-room 
behind  them.  Once  out  in  the  fresh  cool  air, 
she  instantly  felt  revived  and  refreshed,  and 
after  half  an  hour's  promenade,  she  was  quite 
herself  again. 

They  did  not  return  to  the  reception-room 
again  during  the  evening,  but  went  into  the 
dimly-lighted  parlor,  which  was  very  quiet  now 


198  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

and  seemed  entirely  deserted,  but  as  they  en- 
tered some  one  rose  at  the  farther  end  of  the 
room  and  came  toward  them. 

In  the  uncertain  twihght  they  did  not  recog- 
nize friend  or  stranger,  till  they  drew  closer  to 
him. 

"  Why,  Hawleigh,  old  fellow,  what  are  you 
doing  in  here — all  alone,  too.  Haven't  seen  you 
the  whole  evening.  Completely  shelved  your- 
self, have  you  ?  ' '  said  Mr.  Hawkins,  slapping 
him  on  the  shoulder.  "  What  have  you  been 
doing  with  yourself  ?  Let  us  sit  down  here  by 
the  window,  and  I  want  that  you  should  render 
an  account. ' ' 

"  And  how  we've  missed  you!''  Maud  impul- 
sively broke  forth,  and  she  offered  him  her  hand. 
'*  And  your  friends,  Mrs.  Hrayson  and  Miss  Ar- 
nold ?  "  she  asked;  "where  are  they?  What 
charming  people  they  are — but  Miss  Arnold, 
v/ell  she's  just  the  loveliest  creature  I  ever  saw. 
I  am  never  tired  of  looking  at  her,  By  the  way, 
why  are  they  not  present  this  evening  ?  ' ' 

Mr.  Hawleigh  looked  at  her  in  well-bred  sur- 
prise. ' '  Mrs.  Grayson  ^nd  Miss  Arnold  are  both 
in  mourning,  you  are  aware;  Miss  Arnold  re- 
cently, and  would  not  be  expected  to  partici- 
pate in  an  occasion  of  this  kind.  In  fact,  I 
don't  believe  they  care  for  such  things  at  any 
time." 

"Why,  to  be  sure  I  knew  they  were  in  mourn- 
ing. How  thoughtless  of  me  to  ask  such  an  ab- 
surd question, "  she  said,  with  a  provoked  laugh. 
"  I'm  glaa,  however,  I  didn't  ask  them,  or 
they'd  had  a  right  to  bracket  me  with  the  un- 
pardonably  ignorant. ' ' 

Suddenly  she  felt  her  face  flush  as  she  sank 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  109 

back  in  her  seat,  and  opeuiug  her  fan  with  a 
clash,  began  to  use  it  vigorously  for  a  moment 
with  a  rueful  air. 

"There's  no  harm  done,  Miss  Maud,  at  all 
events,"  said  Mr.  Hawleigh  in  a  consolatory 
tone,  smiling;  "  and  your  mistake,  which  was  a 
very  natural  one,  is  by  no  means  reprehensible. 
Charlie,  you  asked  me  how  I  spent  the  evening. 
Mrs.  Grayson  and  Miss  Arnold  were  in  here  an 
hour  or  more ;  then  we  had  a  promenade  on  the 
veranda,  and,  in  a  quiet  ivay,  I've  been  most 
dehghtf uUy  entertained. ' ' 

"I  am  glad  you  have,"  Mr.  Hawkins  said, 
cordially. 

"  Are  they  here  until  the  close  of  the  season  ? 
I  mean  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Miss  Arnold,  of 
course,"  asked  Maud,  whose  look  of  annoyance 
had  relaxed  into  a  brighter  expression. 

"  I  think  that  was  Mrs.  Grayson's  intention, 
but  she  tells  me  that  she  received  letters  this 
afternoon  containing  news  which  makes  it  im- 
perative for  her  to  return  home  next  week. 
When  do  you  go.  Miss  Maud  ?  ' ' 

"  Day  after  to-morrow.  Mamma  says  posi- 
tively she  can't  stay  a  day  longer,  as  we've  been 
from  home  since  June,  and  she's  dreadfully 
wearied  out  rather  than  rested  from  her  outing. 
She  declares  it  has  been  no  recreation  to  her  at 
all,  but  I  tell  her  I've  enjoyed  everything 
enough  for  us  both.  Vida  goes  then,  too — day 
after  to-morrow;  and — oh,  I  want  to  ask  you, 
Mr.  Hawleigh,  while  I  think  of  it.  Do  you 
know  anything  about  Mr.  Henrique,  that  mys- 
terious looking  stranger  who  has  been  with  Vida 
like  her  shadow  all  the  evening  ?  I  don't  think 
he   danced    with   any  other    lady  present,  and 


200  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR,    ' 

when  Vida  happened  to  have  another  partner, 
he  would  stand  with  folded  arms  and  gaze 
superciliously  on  with  a  look  of  derision  levelled 
at  everyone  in  the  room.  He  may  be  very  nice 
and  all  that,  but  somehow  he  affects  me  pecu- 
liarly whenever  I  look  at  him ! ' '  Maud  shrugged 
her  pretty  shoulders  and  made  a  shivering 
sound  through  her  teeth. 

''  I'm  sorry  I  can  give  you  no  information 
with  regard-  to  Mr.  Henrique,"'  said  Mr.  Haw- 
leigh.  "•  I  saw  him  this  afternoon  in  the  office 
soon  after  his  arrival,  and  afterwards  on  his 
way  to  the  reception-room  with  Miss  Rivers,  but 
I  have  no  acquaintance  with  him  whatever." 

Maud  fancied  she  detected  a  note  of  disappro- 
val in  his  tone  which  implied  "  neither  did  he 
care  to  have  any  acquaintance  with  him." 

"  Weil,  I  just  can't  make  him  out  at  all,"  she 
said  slowly,  looking  out  before  her  into  the 
moonlight,  with  a  reflective  light  in  her  soft 
blue  eyes. 

"  You  don't  suppose  he'd  hypnotize  any  one, 
do  you,  pet  ?  ' '  laughed  Charlie  Hawkins,  taking 
Maud's  hand  and  holding  it  up  caressingly,  the 
magnificent  diamond  solitaire  flashing  in  the 
moonlight. 

She  stared  at  him  for  a  moment  in  dismay, 
then  struggled  to  free  her  hand,  while  she  looked 
daggers  of  protestation  at  him  for  this  bold 
action  in  the  presence  of  another. 

"  Don't,  Maud;  please  don't;  I've  told  Harry 
everything.  You  said  I  might,  and  he's  almost 
as  happy  as  I  am. "  He  drew  her  hand  which 
he  still  held  firmly  to  his  lips  and  kissed  it. 

"Miss  Maud,"  Mr.  Hawleigh  said  earnestly, 
' '  I  am  very  glad  this  opportunity  has  been  given 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  201 

me  to  offer  my  sincere  congratulations.  You 
must  know  that,  as  Charlie's  lifelong  friend,  I 
feel  that  I  am  entitled  to  share  his  confidence 
in  a  matter  of  such  vital  importance  to  him — 
and  to  you.  Indeed,  I  assure  you,  I  heartily  re- 
joice with  him  in  his  supreme  happiness  and 
good  fortune  in  winning  so  fair  a  i)rize.  My 
heart's  best  wishes  for  the  perfect  and  continued 
happiness  of  you  both,  could  I  but  put  them  into 
words,  while  true  and  sincere,  might  sound  like 
fulsome  flattery  to  you — and  perhaps  to  him, 
my  most  esteemed  friend  who  has  known  me  so 
long. 

Like  a  frightened  bird.  Maud's  first  impulse 
had  been  to  take  refuge  in  flight.  A  hundred 
vague  |)ur]  >oses  crowded  upon  one  another  faster 
than  she  could  form  them,  but  she  sat  silent  and 
shy  in  an  anguish  of  indecision,  with  averted 
face,  yet  not  shrinking  from  him  while  he 
talked.  Her  silence  made  him  apprehensive  of 
having  wounded  her  in  some  way,  but  when  he 
bent  toward  her  to  get  a  better  view  of  her  face 
she  smiled  and  gave  him  her  hand  in  the  old 
frank  way,  while  his  friend  placed  the  one  he 
held  in  his  cordial  clasp,  saying; 

"There,  thank  him,  darhng;  my  friends  are 
your  friends,  too,  and  Harry  Hawleigh  is  one  of 
the  best  and  truest  friends  I  ever  had.'' 

"  Of  course,  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Hawleigh,  for 
your  kind  wishes  and  congratulations;  I  am 
very  grateful  to  you,  and  I  hope — you  know 
that — "  she  faltered  with  a  broken  voice,  then 
looked  wistfully  at  her  betrothed.  "  What  shall 
I  say,  Charlie  ?  "  she  whispered  softly. 

"Oh,  you  dear  little  one;  you  pretty  shy  bird  I 
.How  lovely   you  are!"   he  said   involuntarily, 
14- 


202  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

catching  her  hands  with  rajDture  and  covering 
them  with  kisses.  "  So  you  don't  know  what 
to  say,  pet  ?  Well,  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  under- 
take to  make  it  all  right  with  him.  Keep  your 
seat,  Harry — don't  be  going,  yet" — this  to  his 
friend.     "  Hold  on  a  little!  " 

"Thanks;  it  is  late,  and  I  must  say  good- 
night to  you  both."  Mr.  Hawleigh  rose  as 
though  he  had  suddenly  thought  of  the  lateness 
of  the  hour.  He  started  toward  the  door,  and 
his  friend  intercepted  him. 

"  By-the  by,  Harry,  you  are  not  in  earnest 
about  leaving  to-morrow,  are  you  ?.  Can't  you 
stay  over  till  the  day  after  ?  I  will  be  glad  to 
have  you  as  my  guest — our  guest "' — he  looked 
mischievously  at  Maud. 

''  More  than  obliged,  Charlie,  but  it  is  out  of 
the  question.  I  must  go  to-morrow — my  vaca- 
tion is  over  then.  You'll  stop  in  Asheville  a 
day  or  two,  I  suppose  ?  ' " 

"Can't  do  it,  thanks.  Am  obliged  to  be  in 
Richmond  by  Monday."  He  glanced  at  Maud — 
' '  I  wanted  to  go  viith  this  little  girl  home — all 
the  way  to  Atlanta — but  she  just  wouldn't  hear 
to  it.  '  Business  before  pleasure,  *  and  all  that 
sort  of  thing,  she  urged  upon  me,  so  I've  got  to 
submit  to  authority  and  obey  orders  now." 

Harry  Hawleigh  laughed.  "  Well,  it  is  the 
very  wisest  thing  you  can  do,  Charlie.  But  I 
really  must  be  going. " "  He  held  out  his  hand 
to  Maud;  "  (:iood-bye,  Miss  Maudl  my  best 
wishes  for  your  happiness,  and  I  trust  we  shall 
meet  again  before  a  great  while.  Charlie,  I'll 
see  you  in  the  morning,  before  I  get  off.  Good- 
night." 

"  Good-night.  Harry,"  and  the  next  moment 
he  was  gone. 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  208 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  next  day  passed  pretty  much  Uke  many 
days  which  had  gone  before,  but  all  too  rapidly 
for  at  least  two  of  the  happy  guests  who  were 
to  take  their  departure  in  a  few  short  hours 
from  this  charming  Arcadia. 

The  ladies  had  spent  the  morning  on  the  lawn, 
some  idling  over  their  fancy  work  and  sketch- 
ing, others  reading  or  playing  tennis  or  ten-pins, 
while  the  gentlemen,  or  those  who  did  not  par- 
ticipate in  these  too  active  pastimes — having  due 
regard  to  the  state  of  the  weather — lounged  and 
lingered  over  their  cigars  in  some  shady  spot, 
seemingly  indifferent  to  all  mankind  and  dis- 
tracting cares,  but  keenly  enjoying  that  sense  of 
tranquil  charm  and  content,  that  state  of  acqui- 
escent repose,  soon  enough  to  be  disturbed  when 
they  had  returned  to  the  excitement  and  busy 
routine  of  their  every-day  life. 

Mr.  Hawleigh  had  made  his  adieux  and  de- 
parted hours  ago,  and  a  sense  of  his  absence  im- 
parted a  tinge  of  sadness  to  the  feelings  of  his 
many  friends  left  behind.  Amongst  the  group 
gathered  on  the  lawn  that  day,  the  conversation 
turned  upon  the  changes  each  would  soon  make, 
and  as  Maud  had  said,  '•  The  very  atmosphere 
breathed  of  vague  farewells  too  painful  to  be 
spoken. ' ' 

"  To  me  there  is  nothing  more  painful,"  said 
Charlie  Hawkins,  "than  this  breaking  up  of 
new  and  pleasant  associations,  a  severing  of 
friendl}^  ties  that  we  make  in  our  summer  jour- 
neyings  hither  and  thither.  I  cannot  help  wish- 
ing that  I   shall   meet   again   all  the  charming 


2<»4  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

j)eople  I  come  across  iu  my  holiday  wanderings; 
and  yet,  it  rarely  happens  that  a  good  wind 
blows  any  of  the  same  summer  friends  together 
again." 

''By  the  way,  Hawkins,"  said  Mr.  Rivers, 
turnitig  to  him  for  a  change  of  subject,  ''  what- 
ever became  of  that  young  fellow  we  met  up  in 
the  mountains  of  Virginia  last  summer  ?  A  sort 
of  protege  of  yours,  wasn't  he '?  Somehow  he 
came  into  my  head  just  now.  He  was  a  cour- 
ageous, talented  young  felloAv.  and  had  un- 
doubtedly artistic  ability.'' 

' '  Whom  do  you  mean  V  That  young  fellow 
who  was  sketching  some  scenes  around  the 
White  Sulphur  Springs?"  asked  Mr,  Hawkins, 
absently.  ''  There  were  several  of  them,  if  I 
rememlDer  correctly,  but  I  suppose  you  have  ref- 
erence to  Cecil  Brian." 

"  Yes,  I  think  that  was  his  name.  Don't  see 
how  you  could  forget  him.  My  recollection  is 
that  you  took  quite  a  fancy  to  him  and  he  to 
you." 

Mr.  Hawkins  looked  at  Mr.  Rivers  a  moment 
in  silence  as  if  he  were  thinking,  and  then  said: 

"  He  went  to  Europe  this  summer  to  com- 
plete his  studies,  or  to  take  lessons  in  painting, 
and,  I've  no  doubt  will  do  first-rate.  Yes.  he 
has  decided  talent,  and  I  believe  will  make 
a  name  for  himself  some  day." 

' '  Pardon  me.  but  are  you  speaking  of  Cecil 
Brian,  the  artist?"  Mrs.  Grayson  asked,  paus- 
ing in  the  midst  of  her  low  side  talk  with  Miss 
Rivers  and  Ruth,  and  turning  suddenly  round. 

"  The  same.  Madam,"  returned  Mr.  Hawkins, 
puzzled  to  know  why  she  asked. 

''  Well,  if  you  are  a  particular  friend  of  his. 


IX    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  205 

I'm  quite  sure  it  will  give  you  i)leasure  to  hear 
very  recently  from  him.  I  had  a  letter  from  mj 
son  yesterday,  who  is  now  in  Germany,  and  he 
writes  me  that  he  had  just  received  a  long  letter 
from  Mr.  Brian — a  letter  that  was  extremely 
touching.  He  spoke  very  feelingly  of  some 
kind  friend  who  had  helped  him  to  pursue  his 
studies  abroad,  and  said  he  could  never  feel  suffi- 
ciently grateful  for  his  goodness,  but  hoped  that 
at  a  futin-e  day  he  might  be  able  to  help  some 
young  man  as  he  had  been  helped  himself,  when 
he  got  ahead  and  had  money  to  spare.  He  is 
very  much  encouraged  in  his  work.  At  present 
Mr.  Brian  is  in  Paris." 

Mr.  Hawkins'  cheek  reddened  slightly,  invol- 
untai'ily.  "  I  am  indeed  glad  to  hear  such  en- 
couraging news  from  Mr.  Brian." 

He  stopped  a  moment,  and  resumed  as  though 
apologizing  or  explaining  away  something: 

"  Mr.  Brian's  father,  through  illness  in  his 
family,  and  other  misfortunes,  became  abso- 
lutely unable  to  assist  his  son  in  the  completion 
of  his  studies,  although  he  knew  he  had  unusual 
talent,  which,  if  developed,  would  be  to  him  a 
means  of  earning  a  living,  and  also  helping  the 
family.  Knowing  that  aid  at  this  particular 
crisis  meant  so  much  to  him,  I — "  he  hesitated 
again,  being  perturbed  by  the  effort  he  was 
making  to  conceal  his  own  generosity,  when 
Miss  Rivers,  who  had  been  regarding  him  with 
judicial  eyes,  interposed  quickly. 

'•■  And  so  you  were  the  generous  benefactor, 
to  hold  out  the  helping  hand  of  which  he  was  in 
such  sore  need  ?  " 

''  Oh,  what  I  did  was  such  a  little  thing,  and 
not  worth  speaking  of, "  he  said  hurriedly.     "I 


20H  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

think  it  is  a  pity  that  there  are  so  many  true 
stories  of  line  talents,  cramped  opportunities  and 
courageous  efforts  lost  to  the  world,  simply  be- 
cause in  this  busy  life  of  many  calls  upon  time 
and  purse,  the  ever  generous  public  cannot  be 
made  acquainted  with  the  special  features  of 
such  cases.  I  often  wish  that  I  were  able  to 
help  many  a  deserving  bread-winner,  struggling 
on  the  journey  of  life  trying  to  make  his  way — 
even  though  it  were  but  a  little,  * '  he  said  frankly 
and  enthusiastically.  "  You  were  Speaking  of 
your  son  a  few  moments  ago,  Mrs.  Grayson; 
may  I  ask  his  name  ^  ' ' 

■•  Carl — Carl  Grayson.'" 

*  ■  Is  it  possible  V  ' '  he  said  eagerly.  * '  How 
delighted  I  am  that  I  have  met  you — Mrs.  Gray- 
son— Carl's  mother — and  to  think  I  shouldn't 
know*  until  now !  He  and  I  were  at  Chapel  Hill 
together,  and  a  nobler  heart  never  beat,  and  a 
better  friend  I  never  had.  Why  the  fellows  at 
the  University  fairly  lionzied  him :  he  held  his 
own  in  the  good  graces  of  all  the  Professors,  too, 
and  if  he  were  not  just  what  he  is,  he  would  be 
unworthy  such  a  mother." 

Mrs.  Grayson  laughed.  ''  Thank  you,  Mr. 
Hawkins.  You  must  know  that  it  is  very  pleas- 
ant to  me — his  mother — to  hear  you  speak  so 
cordially  of  my  son.  When  I  write  Carl  I  shall 
tell  him  that  I  met  you,  and  how  kindly  you 
remembered  him.  I've  no  doubt  he'll  be  pleased 
to  hear  from  3^ou.  *' 

' '  You  are  very  kind,  and  I  could  burden  you 
with  messages  for  him.  but  if  you  will  be  good 
enough  to  give  me  his  address  I  will  write  to 
him." 

As  he  looked  up,  Nellie  motioned  to  him  not 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  20T 

to  give  warning.  She  was  coming  stealthily  up 
behind  Ruth,  and  presently  she  laid  her  little 
hand  over  her  eyes,  drew  her  head  back  and  im- 
printed a  hearty  kiss  upon  her  cheek. 

"Nellie!  you  little  rogue!  you  little  hypocrite! 
I  know  who  you  are/'  said  Ruth,  pinioning  her 
hands  and  playfully  disengaging  herself.  ''Now 
what  shall  I  do  with  you  ?  ' ' 

*•  Come  and  go  with  me  to  dinner,  that's  just 
what  you  can  do,  Cousin  Ruth.  There,  listen ! 
the  band's  playing  now,  and  that  means  for  us 
to  hurry.     Are  you  all  ready  to  go  ?  " 

' '  Yes,  we  are  ready, ' '  said  Miss  Rivers,  and 
they  all  rose  at  once.  ''  The  band  is  playing 
•  Home,  Sweet  Home. '  It  is  said  that  the  man 
who  wrote  that  song  never  had  a  home,  but  I 
don't  beheve  it.  He  certainly  must  have  expe- 
rienced the  delights  of  one.  else  he  could  never 
have  expressed  so  perfectly  the  charm  that  one 
feels  in  reaching  his  own  particular  haven  of 
rest." 

A  voice  at  her  elbow  made  her  start  and  turn 
round.  ''  Miss  Rivers,  will  you  grant  me  the 
honor  of  seeing  you  to  dinner  ?  "  It  was  Mr. 
Henrique  who  had  brought  her  speech  to  a 
rather  abrupt  termination.  After  addressing 
himself  exclusively  to  her,  and  bowing  to  the 
others,  he  turned  with  an  air  of  haughty  reserve 
to  Miss  Rivers  again,  and  together  they  led  the 
way  across  the  lawn  to  the  hotel,  the  others 
sauntering  after  them. 

' '  Dear  me !  ' '  said  Maud  to  Mr.  Hawkins,  as 
though  she  were  recovering  from  a  sudden 
shock.  "  How  strangely  the  sight  of  that  man 
affects  me.  I  can  almost  feel  my  heart  con- 
tracting whenever  I  look  at  him." 


208  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

These  two  had  dropped  behind,  and  were  out 
of  ear-shot  of  the  others. 

^'  Why.  don't  look  at  him,"  Mr.  Hawkins 
said,  laughing;  "don't  think  of  him.  even. 
Let  us  think  of  something  else."' 

The  following  day  was  a  dreary  one  indeed. 
The  whole  landscape  was  transformed  as  if  bj 
magic,  and  wrapped  in  a  rainy  fog. 

The  mountains  were  completely  blotted  out, 
and  wreaths  of  vaporous  mist  invaded  verandas 
and  even  halls,  and  the  atmosphere  was  such  as 
only  natives  could  breathe  with  equanimity. 
The  gloom  was  indescribable,  and  everyone 
seemed  to  feel  its  depressing  elfect. 

Ruth  was  standing  beside  the  window  looking 
cut  en  the  wavering  mist  w^hich  enveloped 
everything  under  its  gray  veil — wrapping  trees, 
and  cottages,  and  lawn  in  the  same  misty, 
cheerless  drizzle.  Under  the  outward  i^all.  the 
rolling  rain  clouds  had  massed  themselves  to- 
gether and  presently  descended  in  good  earnest. 
From  the  eaves  of  the  hotel  and  cottages,  she 
could  hear  the  water  steadily  dripping,  and 
somewhere  through  the  gray  mist  seemed  to 
come  an  eddying,  gurgling  sound  as  of  impetu- 
ous water  leaping  downward  from  rugged  crags. 

Nellie  ran  to  her  and  caught  her  by  the  arm. 
"  Oh.  Cousin  Ruth,  did  you  hear  what  mamma 
said?  We  are  going  home — going  to-morrow! 
Aren't  you  glad?  Mamma  is  writing  the  tele- 
gram now  to  send  to  Uncle  Ralph,  and  I'm 
going  for  Julia  now  to  come  and  pack  the  trunks. 
I  don't  believe  you  care  at  all — and.  oh!  me,  I 
am  so  glad  I     Kiss  me.  Cousin  Ruth,  and  let  me 

go." 

Ruth  took  her  in  her  arms  and  kissed  her 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  209 

with  more  tlian  her  usual  warmth,  tor  she  was 
aware  that  Nelhe  had  been  the  direct  cause  of 
lifting  the  burden  from  her  own  sorely  depressed 
heart.  She  roused  herself  and  became  eager  all 
at  once — quite  as  eager  as  Nellie  to  return  home 
without  delay. 

' '  I  had  been  thinking,  my  dear, ' '  said  Mrs. 
Grayson  to  Ruth  as  soon  as  Nellie  had  left  the 
room,  ''  since  I  received  Ralph's  letter  on  yester- 
day, that  it  would  be  best  for  me  to  return  im- 
mediately, although  he  rather  insisted  that  we 
should  remain  here  until  next  week.  But,  now 
that  the  rain  has  set  in,  and  may  continue  in- 
definitely, for  several  days  perhaps,  I  have 
changed  my  plans  and  decided  to  return  home 
to-morrow.  I  am  going  to  the  office  now  to 
send  this  telegram  to  Ralph,"  she  continued, 
rising  and  moving  toward  the  door  with  the  slip 
of  paper  in  her  hand,  "  and  if  Julia  comes  in  my 
absence,  will  you  mind  superintending  the  pack- 
ing until  I  return  '?     I  shall  not  be  gone  long. ' ' 

"  Certainly  not,  Mrs.  Grayson,"  she  answered 
promptly.  ''  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  assist  her, 
I  have  nothing  else  to  do."  Mrs.  Grayson 
stood  lost  in  thought  a  moment,  came  back  and 
kissed  her,  then  went  out  closing  the  door  softly 
behind  her. 

"  flome!  "  Ruth  said  aloud  when  she  was  left 
alone.  "  Home!"  she  repeated,  the  sweet  word 
rolling  goldenly  out,  making  music  in  her  heart 
and  effacing  every  other  thought.  She  was 
glad  that  the  wandeiings  for  a  time  were  over, 
and  the  new  life  in  which  so  much  lay  hidden, 
and  with  which  she  must  henceforth  courage- 
ously wrestle,  was  already  begun. 


210  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A  week  had  passed  sioce  Mrs.  Grayson,  Ruth 
and  NelUe  had  returned  from  the  mountains, 
and  during  that  time  Mrs.  Grayson  had  been 
almost  constantly  engaged  with  the  countless 
duties  and  demands  on  her  time  which  seemed 
awaiting  her. 

Ruth  had  received  a  long  letter  from  Agnes. 
With  eager  fingers  she  broke  the  seal,  never 
once  dreaming  that  it  would  contain  aught  but 
the  most  pleasant  news.  But,  after  reading  the 
first  few  lines,  she  found  it  was  tilled  with  many 
tearful  regrets,  urging  her  friend  to  resign  her- 
self to  disappointment  and  no  longer  cherish 
any  expectation  of  seeing  her  soon.  "  On 
account  of  important  business  matters,"  she 
wrote,  her  father  had  been  suddenly  summoned 
home,  and  doubtless  before  this  letter  reached 
her  they  would  be  on  their  long  journey  to  the 
far  West.  Ruth  read  this  letter  hurriedly, 
almost  breathlessly,  to  the  end,  with  only  a 
vague,  half-heedful  sense  of  its  meaning — then 
she  began  at  the  first  and  read  more  leisurely 
with  a  sort  of  passive  calm  as  the  undoubted 
facts  dawned  clearly  upon  her;  yet  so  sharp  was 
the  pang  of  disappointment  which  held  her,  that, 
in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  to  repress  her  feelings 
she  broke  down  in  a  burst  of  burning  tears. 

The  sun  was  near  its  setting,  and  all  the  earth 
was  bathed  in  the  brilliant  and  imperial  glories 
that  attend  the  gorgeous  closing  of  a  summer 
day.  Blending  rays  of  delicate  pink  and  lumin- 
ous waves  of  gold  stretched  across  the  sky,  steep- 
ing in  light  the  fine    network  of    pearl-white 


IN    THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  211 

clouds  that  rose  upon  the  horizon,  all  glowing 
in  silvery  radiance  and  making  soft  harmonies 
in  earth  and  sky.  The  balmy  south  wind  stirred 
amongst  the  creamy  roses  twining  up  the  trelUs, 
and  shook  their  rich  fragrance  out  upon  the  air ; 
and  while  the  mellow  amber  hght  grew  deeper 
and  clearer,  the  bees  had  ceased  their  monoto- 
nous hum  and  gone  to  sleep  in  the  heart  of  the 
dewy  flowers.  As  the  day  stole  onward  to  its 
close,  softly  from  the  far  distance  swung  the 
resonant  chime  of  an  evening  bell.  One  by  one 
the  silvery  strokes  rang  out  on  the  evening  air, 
but  so  absorbed  was  Ruth  in  retrospection  that 
she  seemed  to  heed  it  not — neither  was  she  aware 
that  Mrs.  Grayson  had  approached  her  until  she 
laid  her  hand  upon  her  bowed  head  and  her 
ge-ntle  voice  roused  her  from  her  reverie. 

"'  Ruth,  child,  I  have  just  finished  reading 
Agnes'  letter,  and  have  given  it  to  Ralph  to 
read.  I  know  that  you  are  disappointed  that 
Agnes  is  not  coming  to  visit  you  now;  it  is  nat- 
ural that  you  should  be;  but  when  she  does 
come — which,  let  us  hope,  will  be  before  a  great 
while — the  enjoyment  of  her  visit  will  be  none 
the  less  keen  because  you  are  deprived  of  it  at 
this  time.  I  have  often  found  more  real  joy  in 
the  anticipation  of  some  promised  pleasure  than 
in  the  realization  of  the  pleasure  itself.  But, 
after  all.  my  dear,  this  is  one  of  the  little  trials 
which  one  can  learn  to  bear  patiently.  Strength, 
we  know,  is  shown  in  our  ability  not  to  meet 
the  great  trials  of  life,  but  in  the  petty  annoy- 
ances that  make  up  each  day's  experience. 
Don't  you  believe  this,  my  dear?  "  She  drew  a 
chair  near  Ruth  and  sat  down. 

"  Yes,  I  believe  it.  Mrs.  Grayson;  I  know  you 


21'2  UNDER    UOLDEN    SKIES;    OK, 

are  right,  as  you  always  are,  but  when  I  read 
Agnes'  letter  and  found  that  she  was  not  com- 
ing, but  going  home — back  to  my  old  home 
without  seeing  her  again,  somehow  the  recollec- 
tion of  the  past,  papa's  death,  and  all  the  old 
associations  which  I  left  l)ehind,  came  up  before 
me,  and  then  such  a  sick  pain,  such  a  sense  of 
utter  desolation  seemed  to  crush  me  dow^n  that 
I  could  not  help  sliedding  tears."  Euth  smiled 
faintly,  though  tears  glistened  in  her  eyes,  and 
they  had  that  quivering  droop  which  made  them 
at  times  so  pathetic. 

' '  I  know,  dear,  I  know, ' '  said  Mrs.  Grayson 
quickly,  but  tenderly:  "I'm  not  blaming  you. 
On  the  contrary.  I  sympathize  with  you  most 
deeply.""  She  took  Ruth's  hand  which  rested 
on  the  arm  of  the  chair,  and  began  stroking- it 
in  her  gentle  way.  "  I  know  from  experience 
that  human  sympathy  is  very  sweet,  and  helps 
to  soften  our  griefs,  and  encoui'ages  us.  too,  to 
bear  them  with  calmer  resignation.  God  does 
indeed  try  us  severely  sometimes,  but  never 
beyond  what  we  are  able  to  bear;  and  we  must 
try  to  listen  patiently  to  the  lesson  He  would 
teach  us  in  sending  one  trial,  even  though  a  small 
one,  or  He  may  visit  us  twice  with  perhaps  a 
greater  one. 

"•  Mrs.  Grayson,  I  wish  I  had  your  sweet, 
humble  faith  and  patient  resignation.  I  have 
too  much  cause  for  thankfulness  to  ever  mur- 
mur or  repine,  and  I"m  ashamed  that  I  semeed 
to  do  so  now;  but  believe  me,  I  did  not  mean  to 
be  ungrateful,  for  my  heart  is  full  of  gratitude 
to  God  for  giving  me  such  a  lovely  Christian 
home,  and  such  a  dear  sweet  friend  as  you. " ' 

As  she  spoke  the  last  word.  Dr.  Leslie  crossed 


IN    THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  213 

the  veranda  and  joined  them.  Rath  could  not 
long  resist  the  subtle  charm  of  his  strong,  bright, 
sunny  presence.  There  was  something  in  the 
firm  moral  rectitude  of  his  nature,  that  which 
her  nature  demanded,  and  without  taking  coun- 
sel of  her  own  heart,  or  perhaps  it  was  uncon- 
sciously, she  yielded  assent  and  allegiance  to  this 
warm  and  potent  personality  whose  influence 
over  her  grew  stronger  day  by  day. 

She  rose  and  offered  him  her  chair. 

''No,  thank  you,  Ruth;  keep  your  seat.  I 
do  not  care  to  sit  down.  It  is  such  a  splendid 
afternoon  I  was  about  to  propose  a  short  drive 
for  you.  or  is  it  too  late  y  "'  he  asked,  turning  to 
Mrs.  Grayson.  "  Nellie  is  through  with  her 
riding  lesson,  and  Virgil  can  have  the  pony 
phaeton  round  in  a  few^  minutes."'  Seeing  that 
Ruth  hesitated,  he"  said,  ''  Well,  if  it  is  too  late 
to  go  this  afternoon,  and  I"m  at  leisure,  don't 
you  think  you  would  like  to  go  in  the  morn- 
ing?""    He  looked  at  Ruth  again. 

"■  I  thank  you  very  much.  Dr.  Leslie.  I 
should  have  been  glad  to  have  gone  this  after- 
noon; but  as  it  is,  Fm  afraid  I  cannot.  I  am 
not  feeling  very  well,  and  had  just  thought  of 
asking  Mrs.  Grayson's  permission  to  retire.  And 
to-morrow  morning  Mrs.  Grayson  has  promised 
to  take  me  to  the  Academy  to  make  arrange- 
ments about  entering  me  as  a  pupil,  and  as  the 
opening  exercises  begin  then,  I  should  like  to  go 
■very  early,  though  I  shall  not  enter  as  a  board- 
ing pupil  until  next  Monday." 

"  Well,  in  that  case,  I  suppose  I  must  be  con- 
tent to  wait  indefinitely.'"  he  returued  with  a 
pleasant  laugh. 

"  A  very  admirable  thing  about  this  school," 


214  UNDER   C40LDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Dr.  Leslie  supplemented,  ''  and  one  which  elicits 
true  applause  from  all  practical,  common-sense 
people,  is  that  the  physical  development  of  the 
pupils  is  not  neglected.  Principal  Cordell  recog- 
nized the  fact  that  good  health  outweighs  all  other 
considerations— that  upon  it  everything  depends 
— and  so  the  pupils  are  taught  practically  the 
value  of  outdoor  exercise.  The  physical  train- 
ing is  as  much  a  part  of  their  education  as  the 
mental,  and  one  is  not  sacrificed  at  the  expense 
of  the  other. " ' 

''  The  pupils  certainly  have  most  delightful 
grounds  in  which  to  exercise,  too."  said  Mrs. 
GraysoQ.  "  A  stranger  passing  the  Academy 
does  not  dream  that  it  conceals  one  of  the  most 
charming  enclosures  to  be  found  anywhere  in 
the  State.  If  we  will  make  an  early  start  in  the 
morning,  perhaps  ws  shall  have  an  opportunity 
to  go  through  it.  It  is  very  picturesque  and 
romantic,  and  is  kept  in  the  most  perfect  order 
the  year  round. ' ' 

' '  How  far  is  it  from  the  Academy  ?  ' "  Ruth 
asked,  turning  to  Mrs.  Grayson. 

"  Oh,  just  in  the  rear  of  the  Academy  build- 
ings, and  covers  quite  a  large  area — some  thirty 
five  acres." 

''  Yes,  I  can  tell  you  the  playgrounds  are  just 
lovely.  Cousin  Ruth,"  said  Nellie,  who  had  come 
up  unobserved;  "but  you  can't  go  in  there 
without  a  teacher.  There  are  fountains  and 
flowers  and  great  tall  trees,  and  shady  walks 
and  tennis  courts  and  a  real  live  deer.  Now, 
Mamma,  you  must  let  me  go  with  you  and 
Cousin  Ruth  to-morrow.  I  do  so  want  to  play 
with  that  deer."'  NeUie  clapped  her  hands  as 
the  prospective  enjoyment  floated  before  her. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  215 

"  Is  Cousin  Ruth  going  to  scliool  at  the  Acad- 
emy ?  ' '  she  asked,  with  an  expression  of  sur- 
prised interest,  tinged  with  doubt. 

'*  Yes,  and  we'll  miss  her  very  much,  won't 
we?'' 

''  I  should  think  we  would;  but  she's  not  go- 
ing to  board  in  the  Academy,  is  she?  No,  sir: 
we  just  can't  give  Cousin  Kuth  up.  I  won't  let 
her  go — will  you,  Uncle  Ralph  ?  " 

Ruth  gave  her  guardian  a  shy,  upward  glance 
as  Nellie  asked  the  question. 

"Yes,"  he  said,  ''she  is  to  board  in  the  school. 
Principal  Cordell  thinks  this  plan  is  best,  even 
for  pupils  residing  in  town,  and  then  your 
Cousin  Ruth  prefers  it. ' ' 

The  next  morning  when  Ruth  woke  a  fugitive 
sunbeam  was  peeping  in  through  the  half  shut- 
tered window.  She  rose  quickly,  threw  the 
shutter  wide  open  to  let  in  the  perfumed  air, 
and  to  fill  the  room  with  the  warm,  bright  sun- 
light. 

There  was  not  even  one  white  cloud  in  the 
blue  sky,  and  as  she  stood  for  a  moment  admir- 
ing the  lovely  view  from  her  window,  her  eyes 
wandered  off  to  the  blue  peak  of  the  old  Pilot, 
which  always  seemed  to  fill  her  soul  with  a  calm 
and  solemn  awe.  There  it  stood,  ever  unchange- 
able; whether  touched  by  the  fleecy  wings  of 
the  morning  clouds,  or  piercing  the  skies  at 
noon,  or  reposing  in  the  mellow  tints  of  even- 
ing; whether  bathed  in  the  pale  light  of  the 
moon,  or  enveloped  in  the  surges  of  the  tempest, 
with  the  lightning  flashing  around  its  brow,  it 
stood  ever  the  same. 

Immediately  breakfast  was  over,  Virgil  had 
the  phaeton  at  the  door,  and  Mrs.  Grayson,  Ruth 


2 Hi  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

and  Nellie  were  soon  on  their  way  to  the  Acad- 
emy. They  had  scarcely  stopped  in  front  of  the 
Principal's  residence  than  Nellie  jumped  down 
and  leaving  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Ruth  to  follow, 
ran  quickly  up  the  narrow  stone  steps  and 
sounded  the  knocker.  Just  then  there  was  one 
emphatic  stroke  from  the  old  town  clock,  and  at 
the  same  instant  Principal  Cordell  opened  the 
door  preparatory  to  going  out. 

"•  The  hour  for  the  preliminary  exercises  at 
the  opening  of  our  school,"  he  explained  to  Mrs. 
Grayson  after  greeting  her  and  Ruth,  * '  and  if 
you  and  Miss  Arnold  care  to  go  over  to  the 
chapel,  we  shall  be  pleased  to  have  you  with  us 
on  this  occasion." 

His  manner  was  very  courteous,  and  even  cor- 
dial, but  without  the  least  trace  of  effusion. 

"Thank  you;  not  this  morning,"  said  Mrs. 
Grayson,  smiling  and  extending  her  hand  to  bid 
him  good-bye.  "I  know  your  rules  about  being- 
prompt,  so  I'll  not  detain  you.  Ruth  and  Nellie 
wish  to  see  the  park  and  playgrounds  in  the 
rear  of  the  Academy,  and  if  they  are  open  to 
visitors  this  morning,  we  wish  your  permission 
to  go  through  them." 

"  Certainly,  and  if  you  wiU  come  with  me  to 
the  Academy,  I  will  have  Miss  Brodie,  one  of 
our  teachers,  to  conduct  you  over  the  grounds, 
and  afterwards  through  the  buildings,  if  you 
wish." 

When  Miss  Brodie  came,  and  Principal  Cordell 
had  excused  himself,  Mrs.  Grayson  turned  to 
Miss  Brodie  and  said ; 

"  It  is  a  great  kindness  in  you  to  go  with  us, 
and  one,  I  assure  you,  we  appreciate  very  niuch; 
but  I  hope  we  have  not  imposed  a  troublesome 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  217 

duty  upon  you  in  making  this  request  of  Princi- 
pal Cordell. ' ' 

"Oh,  not  at  all.  We  are  always  glad  to  show 
visitors  and  strangers  that  which  we  appreciate 
so  much  ourselves,  and  custom  has  made  it  com- 
mon with  us  to  do  so, ' '  she  said,  with  graceful 
courtesy.     "  Come  this  way,  if  you  please." 

They  passed  through  a  narrow  hallway,  which 
opened  out  upon  a  long  veranda,  and  this  upon  a 
quadrangle  or  square  court,  exquisitely  kept, 
and  in  the  center  of  which  played  a  beautiful 
fountain,  surrounded  by  feathery  ferns  and  moss- 
encrusted  rocks,  most  picturesquely  grouped. 
Near  by  a  magnificent  weeping  willow  swayed 
its  long,  graceful  branches,  while  underneath  its 
delicate  shade,  with  broad  sun-shafts  falling 
through,  rustic  seats  and  swings  were  conven- 
iently arranged  for  the  pleasure  of  the  pupils. 
The  morning  glory  of  an  early  autumn  day  was 
over  the  scene,  which  was  a  most  enchanting 
and  peaceful  one. 

Then  they  crossed  the  quadrangle  and  passed 
down  a  graveled  path,  bordered  with  iron  chairs 
set  in  line,  and  thence  on  through  an  open  gate- 
way in  a  high^  ivy-covered  wall,  which  divided 
the  beautiful  court  square  from  the  playgrounds 
])ro])er. 

Here  and  there  the  inellow  brick  work  shone 
through  the  dark  glossy  leaves  of  ivy  and  peri- 
winkle which  trailed  over  it  and  hung  in  grace- 
ful festoons  from  its  sides. 

Passing  down  the  flight  of  moss-grown  steps, 
they  followed  one  of  the  clean  pebbled  walks 
winding  around  the  turfed  terrace,  and  this  soon 
brought    them    to    a     trellised     summer-house 


15 


^18  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

perched  high  upon  a  hill-side  and  with  a  long 
flight  of  wooden  steps  leading  up  to  it. 
.  With  an  exclamation  of  delight.  Nellie  ran 
quickly  up  to  the  top  steps,  then  stood  breath- 
ing quick  and  trying  to  get  her  breath  again. 
But  finding  that  she  was  alone,  she  suddenly 
changed  her  mind  and  came  bounding  down  the 
stairs,  making  frantic  gestures  to  her  mother 
and  Ruth  not  to  leave  her.  She  soon  joined 
them,  however,  where  they  stood  watching  the 
gleaming  spray  of  a  pretty  fountain  that  shot 
high  up  in  the  golden  sunlight,  then  fell  like 
powdered  silver  dust  over  the  ferns  and  grasses 
beneath. 

Through  the  dew-dripping  trees  and  shrub- 
beries they  could  see  another  fountain  sending 
up  its  silvery  jet  in  which  the  brilliant  sunbeams 
twirled  and  trembled. 

Turning  to  the  right,  they  strolled  past  a  high, 
velvety  green  bluff,  known  as  Lovers'  Leap,  and 
upon  which  rose  in  somber  majesty  a  trio  of 
grand  old  poplars,  above  those  of  ordinary 
growth,  like  giants  among  pigmies,  and  the  sun- 
lit sward  beneath  their  lower  branches  was  made 
still  more  beautiful  by  the  intangible  softness  of 
draperies  of  vines  festooned  and  swaying  from 
limb  to  limb;  and,  here  and  there,  hundreds  of 
milk-white  gauzy  hammocks  which  the  cunning- 
spiders  had  contrived  to  suspend  in  the  humid 
air.  Then  on  they  passed  up  a  gentle  slope  and 
through  a  grove  of  splendid  trees,  fresh  and  cool, 
and  almost  as  shadowy  as  twilight  even  at  mid- 
day —past  the  tennis  courts  and  croquet  grounds, 
•and,  reaching  a  little  knoll  in  a  clear  space,  they 
stopped,  turned  and  looked  back  across  the  lovely 
landscape  over  which   lingered  a  soft,  magical 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  210 

haze,  changing  the  whole  into  a  scene  of  mys- 
tery and  enchantment. 

The  great  serenity  of  the  place,  the  softly 
changing  green  which  covered  its  entire  extent, 
the  undulating,  exquisite  line  of  little  hills,  the 
lovely  vistas,  the  tall  grasses  and  ferns  making- 
obeisance  to  the  glinting  waters  of  the  rippling 
brook  as  a  languid  wind  swept  over  them,  was 
something  unspeakably  beautiful  and  won- 
drously  enchanting.  If  no  more  loveliness  than 
this  charming  view  could  give  were  added  to 
one's  inner  life,  surely  a  pilgrimage  to  the  old 
Moravian  town  would  be  fully  requited.  This 
union  of  taste  and  elegance  was  like  a  dream — a 
vision  of  fairyland. 

Just  visible  through  the  thick  foliage  of  trees 
on  the  left,  with  a  halt  obliterated  pathway  lead- 
ing up  to  it,  stood  a  large  wooden  pavilion  in 
detached  solitude,  and  grown  dilapidated  perhaps 
from  long  disuse,  for  upon  the  warped  shingle 
roof  and  once  stately  pillars  supporting  it,  mosses 
had  crepi  and  lichens  gathered.  Some  weather- 
stained  benches  which  ran  along  three  sides  of 
the  platform,  and  which  were  still  upright  and 
firm,  were  powdered  with  gray  dust  and  strewn 
with  pieces  of  dead  twigs  blown  thither  from 
the  overshadowing  branches  of  the  encircling- 
trees. 

A  long  wooden  table,  standing  in  the  center 
of  the  floor,  was  elaborately  covered  with  curi- 
ous carving  and  mysterious  hieroglyphics,  traced 
years  ago  by  the  delicate  hand  of  some  fair 
young  girl,  who,  perhaps,  had  long  since  passed 
away  into  the  eternal  silence. 

As  Ruth  bent  and  studied  in  vain  to  decipher 
the  cabalistic  liues^  which  had  doubtless  passed 


220  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

through  so  many  changing  crucibles  of  thought, 
she  sighed  half  unconsciously  and  turned  away. 
Somehow  a  curious  charm  brooded  over  this 
quiet  spot  where  Nature  had  overcome  the  prun- 
ing knife  of  the  keeper,  but  it  seemed  sad  and 
dreary.  Beyond  was  the  wide-rolling  stretch  of 
the  park-like  woods  with  its  stately  trees,  ana 
here,  too,  Nature  seemed  to  have  her  own  wav 
still. 

Again  they  sauntered  on,  passing  many  ro- 
mantic spots  about  which  clustered  countless  old 
sweet  memories — Mrs.  Grayson  and  Miss  Brodie 
talking  all  the  while,  and  Mrs.  Grayson,  appar- 
ently inspired  by  the  reality  of  the  present  scene, 
recalled  with  delight  various  pleasing  incidents 
of  her  old  school-days  when  she  had  spent  so 
many  happy  hours  beneath  the  shade  of  these 
great  oaks,  affording  glimpses  of  numerous  vistas 
through  their  green  foliage,  and  which,  to  her, 
had  all  the  glamour  of  the  past  still  surrounding 
them. 

After  descending  the  gentle  slope,  they  re- 
turned by  a  different  way,  and  bearing  to  the 
right,  in  front  of  them,  across  a  low  fence  sunk 
in  coarse  grass  and  tangled  undergrowth,  and 
lying  warm  and  sheltered  on  a  southeasterly 
exposure,  was  Dr.  Balbec's  lily  pond,  where  the 
first  Victoria  Regia,  that  rarest  of  aquatic 
plants,  was  known  to  prosper  and  bloom  in  the 
open  air. 

Wafts  of  cool  breezes,  laden  with  the  rich, 
sweet  scent  of  flowers,  drifted  across  to  them.  To 
Mrs.  Grayson  there  was  something  in  the  subtle 
fragrance  which  seemed  to  touch  with  electric 
force  some  slumbering  sense  of  memory,  and  lo  I 
what  a  host  of  vague  and  tender  recollections 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  1^21 

stole  back  upon  her,  invisible  images  which  she 
had  thought  forever  effaced  from  memory  for 
a  brief  moment  revived  and  stood  out  clear  and 
vivid  before  her,  and  while  she  tried  to  grasp 
the  picture — to  hold  it  in  view  yet  longer  and 
enjoy  it — it  suddenly  vanished  out  of  sight. 

When  they  turned  to  leave  the  dear  old  play- 
ground, somewhere  from  amongst  the  shining- 
leafage  of  a  tall  tree  came  the  pure  liquid  notes 
— each  one  clear  and  detached — of  a  Baltimore 
Oriole,  that  shy,  pretty  bird  which  loves  best  to 
pour  out  its  sweetest  song  in  seclusion,  or  in  the 
deejD  solitude  of  the  wood.  It  was  as  sweet  a 
sound  as  the  plashing  noise  of  cool  raindrops  on 
the  shimmering  surface  of  rippling  waters.  Kuth 
stopped  and  listened. 

"How  beautiful,"  she  said.  "That  is  the 
sweetest  singer  yet. ' ' 

Miss  Brodie  led  the  way  back  to  the  main 
building  of  the  Academy,  explaining  to  Ruth 
everything  as  they  passed  on  through  the  broad 
corridors  with  their  exquisitely  clean  rubber- 
muffied  floors,  visited  the  bright,  cheerful  study- 
rooms,  passed  on  through  the  large  libraries 
with  their  well-filled  shelves,  then  up  through 
the  white-curtained  dormitories  with  their  spot- 
less single  beds,  and  here,  as  in  all  other  por- 
tions of  the  large,  airy  building,  everything  was 
scrupulously  clean  and  in  the  most  perfect  order. 

A  few  minutes  later,  when  they  returned  to 
the  hall  below,  it  was  nearly  twelve  o'clock. 

"  Miss  Arnold,  I  suppose  you  will  be  with  us 
on  Monday?"  said  Miss  Brodie,  on  bidding  her 
good-bye. 

"Yes,  that  is  my  intention  now,"  she  an- 
swered. 


222  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Nellie  babbled  on  all  the  way  home,  filling  up 
the  intervals  where  there  would  have  been 
silence,  and  as  soon  as  the  carriage  stopped  she 
lost  no  time  making  her  exit  therefrom,  to  greet 
her  Uncle  Ralj^h,  who  was  standing  on  the  steps 
of  the  veranda  ready  to  receive  them. 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  '223 


CHAPTER  XX. 

In  her  deep  sympathy  for  the  poor,  Mrs.  Gray- 
son had  often  tried  to  formulate  some  effective 
way  of  helping  them  without  the  help  rendered 
taking  the  form  of  chailty  and  patronage.  Her 
mind  teemed  with  half-formed  plans  and  pur- 
poses, which,  the  longer  she  dwelt  upon  them, 
began  to  assume  visible  and  tangible  shape. 
The  difficulties  vanished  the  more  her  enthusi- 
asm increased.  "  If  we  only  had  a  Woman's 
Exchange,  or  some  such  organization,"  she 
mused,  ' '  the  problem  of  relief  for  them  might 
be  partially  solved,  at  least." 

She  had  a  growing  belief  in  the  success  of  just 
such  a  benevolent  enterprise  in  her  own  city. 
Indeed,  she  believed  it  was  a  necessity  in  the 
community,  and  would  prove  a  great  benefit  to 
women  obliged  by  adverse  circumstances  to 
make  their  accomplishments  or  practical  knowl- 
edge remunerative. 

An  Exchange  such  as  she  had  in  her  mind 
would  mean  burdens  lightened  that  are  other- 
wise almost  unbearable;  it  would  mean  healthy 
independence  instead  of  support  hard  to  receive 
and  often  unwillingly  given;  it  would  mean 
comfort  in  many  homes  where  actual  want  or 
dreary  dissatisfaction  now  existed. 

With  the  conviction  momentarily  growing 
stronger,  that  the  time  had  come  when  such  a 
delicate  and  beautiful  charity  was  a  positive  ne- 
cessity in  the  city,  she  determined  she  would 
make  the  attempt  at  whatever  pecuniary  cost  to 
herself  to  undertake  the  project,  and  with  the 
aid  of  several  well-known  philanthropic  ladies 


'224  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

whom  she  kuew  to  be  interested  in  this  work, 
they  would  begin  in  a  modest  way  and  with  per- 
severance as  a  helper  what  might,  they  not  ac- 
complish ?  There  were  numbers  of  ladies  all 
over  the  city  who  excelled  in  every  variety  of 
dainty  handicraft,  uesful  as  well  as  ornamental, 
and  the  articles  received  at  the  Exchange  would 
include  decorative  work  of  all  kinds  in  painting 
and  embroidery,  fine  needlework,  german  and  din- 
ner favors,  and,  in  fact,  they  would  be  prepared  to 
fill  orders  for  anything  that  a  woman  can  make. 
The  value  should  be  put  upon  all  goods  by  the 
consignors  themselves,  ten  per  cent  of  the  price 
received  being  retained  by  the  Society,  and  the 
work  all  done  by  the  women  in  their  homes. 
The  payment  of  a  fee  of  five  dollars  would  entitle 
a  person  to  send  the  work  of  three  ladies  for  one 
year.  She  determined,  too,  that  the  enterprise 
should  be  of  such  a  high  character  that  it  would 
bear  the  scrutiny  of  the  most  enlightened  criti- 
cism, even  at  this  time  when  people  have 
learned  to  distinguish  so  accurately  between  the 
charity  which  helps  and  that  which  only  harms 
its  recipients. 

Then  she  began  to  look  about  for  a  desirable 
locality,  and  a  suitable  room  to  begin  operations 
in — a  room  where  their  handiwork  might  be  ex- 
hibited and  sold.  She  finally  decided  upon  a 
salesroom  down  town  in  a  good  neighborhood, 
in  which  she  thought  they  could  make  a  begin- 
ning. It  wasn't  exactly  the  thing  she  wanted, 
but  she  concluded  to  take  it,  unless  something- 
better  was  provided.  The  room  she  had  in  mind 
was  a  rather  long,  narrow  one,  not  as  light,  per- 
haps, as  it  should  be;  neither  was  it  remarkable 
for  its  height.     Yet  it  was  cheerful  looking,  and 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  225 

with  all  its  limitations  it  possessed  certain  pos- 
sibilities whicli  could  be  dev^eloped  and  utilized 
very  nicely.  She  resolved  to  talk  with  her 
brother  about  it  as  soon  as  she  reached  home, 
or  immediately  after  supper  when  they  were  less 
likely  to  be  interrupted;  and,  as  Dr.  Leslie  was 
in  thorough  sympathy  with  every  movement 
that  tended  toward  the  betterment  and  pro- 
motion of  woman's  work,  she  was  sure  of  his 
l)ractical  aid  and  cooperation  iu  this  enterprise. 

Dr.  Leslie  was  in  the  sitting-room  when  Mrs. 
Gravson  returned  from  a  drive  she  had  taken 
with  this  matter  in  view. 

"What  kept  you  so,  Helen?"  he  asked  a  little 
anxiously,  knowing,  however,  that  she  had  some 
good  reason. 

"  Mrs.  Nelson  and  myself  were  talking,  and 
I  did  not  dream  it  was  so  late.  Then  I  drove  to 
South  Side  to  see  old  Mrs.  Donaldson,  as  I  prom- 
ised, and  to  find  out  what  she  needed.  She  is 
able  to  get  about  again.  But  Mrs.  Nelson/'  she 
said,  going  back  to  her  again,  "  I  do  feel  so 
sorry  for  her.  The  poor  woman  is  so  troubled 
and  depressed,  and  can't  seem  to  brighten  up 
any  more.  I  want  so  much  to  do  something  to 
help  her — to  try  to  lighten  her  burdens,''  re- 
plied Mrs.  Grayson,  taking  off  her  hat. 

"  Did  she  say  anything  about  Mr.  Nelson, 
how  he  likes  his  place,  and  how  he  is  getting 
on  V  " " 

"Oh,  yes;  and  she  asked  me  to  chank  you, 
too,  for  your  kindness  in  getting  him  the  place, 
and  I'm  sure  she  appreciates  it  very  much.  I'm 
afraid,  however,  from  something  she  said,  that 
she  hasn't  nmch  confidence  in  his  retaining  the 
position  long." 


22fi  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Dr.  Leslie  looked  up  with  a  sudden  access  of 
interest,  but  as  Mrs.  Grayson  did  not  seem  dis- 
posed to  explain,  he  said  quietly: 

'*  I  believe  Mr.  Nelson  is  good  and  kindly  at 
heart,  but  unfortunately  he  seems  to  lack  will- 
power and  firmness  to  stand  up  bravely  and 
fight  against  the  obstacles  that  loom  up  before 
him.  I  don't  believe  he  can  really  help  it,  or 
that  he  even  suspects  the  truth,  that  he  has  not 
the  courage  to  face  adversity  and  try  to  meet 
the  most  sacred  obligations  which  his  family 
ties  impose  upon  him.  I  am  sure  he  wants  to 
do,  he  wants  to  succeed,  but  somehow  it  seems 
all  his  efforts  are  futile.  I  do  hope  he  may  be 
able  to  keep  his  present  situation,"  Dr.  Leslie 
concluded,  earnestly. 

"•'  Yes,  so  do  I.  But  come,  we'll  go  to  supper 
now,  and  afterwards  I  have  something  to  talk 
with  you  about  of  great  imj^ortance'' — she  looked 
at  him,  smiling — "something  I've  been  think- 
ing about  so  seriously  this  afternoon  that  it  has 
quite  crowded  everything  else  out  of  my  mind, 
and  I  must  get  rid  of  it." 

Dr.  Leslie  went  to  the  sitting-room  as  soon  as 
he  had  finished  his  supper. 

Mrs.  Grayson  sat  down  on  one  of  the  low  easy 
chairs  near  him,  and  resting  her  arm  upon  the 
table,  regarded  him  half  seriously,  half  hesita- 
tingly, as  though  she  were  studying  his  mood 
and  trying  to  divine  how  her  scheme  would  im- 
press him. 

"  Now  for  business,"  she  said;  "  and  I'll  try 
not  to  bore  you.  but  will  outliae  my  pet  project 
as  briefly  as  I  can. ' '  Her  words  were  low  and 
deliberate,  and  her  voice  recalled  him.  He 
raised  his  head  and  nodded  slightly. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  227 

"  Well,  let  us  hear  the  '  important  matter.'  " 
I  am  here  to  listen,  to  suggest  and  to  help  if  I 
can,"  he  said,  smiling  and  placing  himself  in  a 
responsive  attitude,  "If  it  is  about  some  new 
benevolent  scheme  you  have  on  hand — and  I 
more  than  half  suspect  it  is — you  know  before- 
hand my  unconditional  loyalty  to  what  is  good 
and  helpful,  and  you  may  count  upon  my  co- 
operation and  support.  I  shall  not  fail  you,"" 
he  said  encouragingly. 

"  Thank  you.  I  knew  you  would  help.  Yes, 
this  is  an  enormously  important  matter  to  me, 
and  to  hundreds  of  others  whom  I  would  reach. " 
And  with  new  courage  she  went  on  to  explain 
her  plans  in  detail. 

"Upon  my  word,  Helen,'"  he  said,  smiling, 
' '  you  are  a  very  proper  person  to  plead  in  be- 
half of  b'enevoient  work.  But  there  is  one 
thing,"  he  went  on  in  his  quiet,  business-like 
way  when  the  tide  of  Mrs.  Grayson's  enthusiasm 
had  ebbed  for  a  moment,  "that  you  seem  not 
to  have  thought  of  yet,  and  that  is  a  suitable 
and  properly  equipped  building  for  your  busi- 


ness." 


"  Ah,  yes  I  have,"  she  said  quickly;  "  and  I 
was  coming  to  that,  and  that  is  just  where  I 
want  your  help.  You  know  that  one  can't,  at 
a  single  bound,  and  especially  in  an  enterprise  of 
this  kind,  reach  the  goal  at  once.  It  is  the 
steady  climb  upward,  with  hearty  cooperation 
among  men  and  women  in  philanthropic  work 
that  will  insure  success  in  this  scheme.  Once 
started,  and  as  the  work  increases,  we  hope  to 
add  new  interests  and  new  departments,  and  fill 
several  rooms  with  beautiful  and  salable  articles 
both  useful  and  decorative.     I  have  taken  a  gen- 


228  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 

eral  survey  of  the  field,  and  then  thoroughly 
coDsidered  all  the  details  of  the  work.  It  is 
feasible,  it  is  practical,  it  is  common-sense.  Now 
tell  me,  why  shouldn't  it  have  a  fair  trial,  at 
least?'" 

"  By  the  way  of  suggestion  I  would  say, 
what  you  want  first  is  to  interest  several  other 
leaders  who  will  join  you  in  this  work — men 
and  women  who  have  means  as  well  as  social 
position  and  iufluence,  and  if  you  can  infect 
them  with  your  hope,  energy  and  enthusiasm, 
why  I  beheve  you  will  succeed  in  making  this 
thing  an  actual  fact ;  and  once  started,  I  think 
— yes,  I  am  pretty  certain — it  will  become  a 
gratifying  success,  an  incalculably  potent  factor, 
and  a  moral  and  financial  support,  which  shall 
enable  manv  an  excellent  woman  to  maintain 
her  self-respect  by  supporting  herself  and  per- 
haps others  dependent  upon  her  when  adversity 
makes  it  necessary. 

Mrs.  Grayson  looked  at  him  with  beaming- 
eyes.  "  How  kind  of  you  Ralph — that  is  just 
like  yourself  to  say  so.  I  thought  you  would 
agree  with  me,  and  I  am  so  glad  you  can  see  our 
needs  and  sympathize  with  us." 

Then  she  rose  and  went  to  the  escritoire  in 
the  room,  and  returned  with  a  pencil  and  sheet 
of  note  paper. 

"  Yes,  you  may  put  me  down  for  five  hundred 
dollars  for  the  first  two  years,  and  more  if 
needed,"  Dr.  Leslie  said,  smiling,  and  answer- 
ing this  movement  of  his  sister.  "  I  shall  show 
my  faith  by  my  works,  or  gifts.  * ' 

"•  Oh,  I  am  not  going  to  canvass  for  subscrip- 
tions or  contributions  this  evening,  * '  she  laughed, 
sitting  down    very  deliberately ;  '  •  but   to   give 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  229 

you  some  idea  on  paper  what  my  plans  are. 
However,  I'll  accept  your  contribution  with 
many  thanks,  as  a  nucleus,  and  which  I  must 
say  is  a  most  generous  one. '  *  She  looked  up  at 
him  and  said  in  an  impressive  tone.  *'  How  very 
practical  you  are,  Ralph ;  and  if  I  could  find  a 
few  others  equally  so.  I  should  have  no  fears  for 
the  success  of  my  project.  But  I'll  not  discuss 
the  subject  further  this  evening,  but  wait  until  I 
see  others  and  make  them  understand  what  we 
want — what  we  need. " ' 

She  sat  down  again,  after  putting  aAvay  the 
paper  and  pencil,  took  up  a  Bible  which  lay  upon 
the  table  and  handed  it  to  him.  He  took  it  rev- 
erently from  her  hands,  and  after  turning  a  few 
pages,  began  to  read  a  short  Psalm. 

After  these  devotional  exercises  were  over, 
Mrs.  Grayson  rose  to  leave  the  room,  but  j)aused, 
looking  down  at  the  pile  of  books  near  her 
brother.  ''  I  suppose  you  are  going  to  read 
awhile,''  she  said. 

"  Yes,  these  are  some  new  medical  works  I 
ordered,  and  they  came  to-day.  I  wish  to  glance 
over  one  or  two  of  them  before  retiring. ' '  He 
took  out  his  watch  and  looked  at  the  time. 
"  Ten  o'clock  already;  but  I  can  give  them  an 
hour's  time  at  least." 

"■  Do  you  think  you'll  restrict  yourself  to 
that  V ' '  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  smiling,  and  her 
smile  had  in  it  a  touch  of  friendly  reproach. 

"You  physicians  talk  to  us  about  need  of  rest, 
and  caution  us  against  physical  exhaustion  and 
overwork;  but  when  it  comes  to  practice  for 
yourselves,  you  take  refuge  forthwith  in  plaus- 
ible excuses.  I'm  sure  you  must  be  tired  after 
to-day's  work,  so  I  would  prescribe  rest  for  you, 


230  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

as  you  so  often  do  for  me,  and  quite  as  often 
when  I  do  not  need  it,"  she  said,  smihng.  "  But 
I  am  going  now,  and  leave  you  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  your  task,  and  not  take  any  more 
of  your  time.  Good-night.''  She  thought  she 
heard  him  sigh  deeply  as  she  turned  away  and 
left  him  alone. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  231 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  crisp,  delicious  days  of  autumn,  with 
their  pervading  Indian  summer  haze  and  glint- 
ing sunshine  playing  mistily  over  the  sleeping- 
wood,  and  effacing  the  dividing  line  of  earth  and 
sky,  had  come,  burdened  with  all  their  tender 
memories  of  the  fading  season  that  pleaded 
almost  pathetically  for  sweet  indulgence  in  list- 
less reverie  or  dreamy  idleness. 

Carl  and  Agnes  wrote  promptly  and  regularly. 
The  latter  to  Ruth,  who  always  sent  her  letters 
to  Mrs.  Grayson  to  read.  In  her  last  long  and 
expansive  communication  Agnes  had  vaguely 
hinted  of  a  foreign  tour  and  of  a  probability  of 
meeting  (Jarl  the  ensuing  summer,  but  it  was  in 
her  pleasant  gossipy  way,  with  nothing  defi- 
nitely outlined,  simply  an  underlying  sugges- 
tion of  a  hope  that  she  might  some  day  realize. 

Mrs.  Grayson  had  received  a  letter  from  Maud 
Exum,  too — her  acquaintance  of  the  summer — 
and  soon  after  handsome  invitations  to  her  mar- 
]iage  with  Mr.  Hawkins  had  followed  for  her- 
self and  Ruth. 

Ruth  had  been  home  but  once  since  she  en- 
tered the  Academy.  It  was  in  November,  the 
occasion  being  Nellie'<^  birthday  party,  at  which 
event  she  had  promised  Nelhe  some  weeks  previ- 
ous to  be  present. 

The  winter  and  spring  passed  rapidly  away, 
filled  with  the  thousand  subtle  forces  of  an  ever 
changing  world,  but  bringing  no  notable  changes 
or  events  in  the  lives  of  those  concerned. 

It  was  in  June,  soon  after  the  commencement 
at  the  Academy,   that  Ruth   received  a  letter 


282  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

from  Agnes,  dated  St.  Denis  Hotel,  New  York. 
The  first  few  sentences  told  of  their  arrival  in 
the  city,  and  then  ran  on  in  the  usual  style  of 
rhapsody  that  school-girls  affect.  "  Don't 
think,  my  darling,  I  am  trying  to  test  your 
powers  of  endurance  and  long  suffering,  as  well 
as  your  faith  in  my  love  and  devotion  for  you, 
for  I  am  sure  there  must  be  hmitations  even  to 
your  generous  nature,  unless  you  are  more  than 
mortal.  I  have  been  promising  you  a  visit  so 
long,  and  looking  forward  with  so  much  pleasure 
to  our  meeting,  that  it  seems  almost  heartless 
and  inconsistent — yes,  even  paradoxical — for  me 
to  write  you  from  this  proximity  that,  instead 
of  hurrying  to  you,  as  I  so  long  to  do,  I  am 
fleeing  further  away  from  you,  and  for  an  in- 
definite time.  It  is  settled  at  last  that  we — that 
is,  papa,  mamma  and  myself — are  going  abroad, 
and  we  sail  to-morrow.  I  think  you  will  rejoice 
with  me  that  I  am  about  to  realize  actually  the 
dream  which  has  haunted  me  so  long.  I  can 
hardly  believe  yet  that  it  is  really  true.  We 
liope  to  have  Carl  with  us  during  his  vacation, 
and  you  know  I  am  quite  wild  to  see  this  hand- 
some cousin  of  mine,  to  whom  I  am  said  to  bear 
so  striking  a  resemblance.  How  I  wish  that  you 
were  going  with  us.  What  lovely  times  and 
experiences  we  should  have  together.  I  don't 
like  to  think  of  going  and  leaving  you  behind. 
You  must  let  me  hear  from  you  soon  through 
one  of  your  nice,  long  letters,  and  remember  that 
I  shall  not  see  anything  in  my  travels  that  I  will 
enjoy  more.  With  a  great  deal  of  love  for  your- 
self, Cousin  Helen  and  Cousin  Ralph,  your  lov- 
ing friend,  Agnes." 

Ruth  read  this  over  several  times,  and  then 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  233 

with  mingled  emotions  took  it  to  Mrs.  Grayson. 
As  she  read  the  last  page  of  it,  Ruth  was  watch- 
ing her.  and  she  did  not  fail  to  interpret  aright 
the  look  that  came  to  her  face.  Presently  a  tear 
stole  down  her  cheek  and  dropped  upon  the  letter. 
Then  she  slowly  folded  it,  handed  it  back  to 
Ruth,  and  without  saying  a  word  rose,  kissed 
her  and  quietly  left  the  room.  That  silent  kiss 
expressed  much  more  than  words  to  Ruth. 

She  knew  it  was  the  allusion  in  Agnes'  letter 
to  Carl  that  had  caused  her  tears  to  start,  and 
she  would  have  hked  to  say  something  gentle 
and  comforting  to  Mrs.  Grayson  at  that  moment, 
but  a  feeling  of  diffidence  held  her  back. 

Gradually  the  days  grew  more  chilly  and  win- 
try, and  when  the  first  gray  dawn  broke  on 
Christmas  Eve,  the  ground  showed  a  light  pow- 
dering of  snow  that  had  fallen  during  the  night. 
But  as  the  morning  advanced  a  rosy  light  crept 
along  the  east  and  gave  promise  of  a  sunlit  day. 
By  ten  o'clock  the  prophetic  promise  was  ful- 
filled. The  sun  was  shining  with  a  cold  white 
glittering  brightness,  while  a  sharp  wind  drove 
the  fleecy  clouds  in  an  aerial  race  across  the  pale 
blue  sky. 

Ruth  had  come  home  to  spend  the  Christmas 
holidays,  and  half  an  hour  after  breakfast  that 
morning,  when  she  went  to  the  sitting-room, 
her  guardian  was  standing  on  the  rug  in  front 
of  the  grate  with  his  hands  folded  behind  him, 
his  favorite  attitude,  which  Ruth  knew  so  well. 

"  Come  in,  Ruth.  Don't  run  away  because  I 
am  in  here,  or  I  shall  be  tempted  to  vacate  right 
away.  I  don't  believe  I've  seen  you  but  twice 
since  you  came  home." 

"  That's  because  I  only  came  yesterday,"  she 
16 


234  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

said  laughingly,  as  she  entered  the  room,  ' '  and 
then  I've  been  assisting  Mrs.  Grayson  with  the 
Christmas  decorations.  We  are  quite  through, 
I  believe." 

How  wonderfully  beautiful  she  looked,  Dr. 
Leslie  thought. 

As  he  stood  watching  her,  suddenly  the  whole 
fjassionate^  flood  of  his  love  which  had  been 
subdued  so  long,  surged  up  from  the  very  depths 
of  his  soul,  loosened  and  swept  way  the  old,  pe- 
culiar bondship  of  guardian  and  ward,  and  m 
that  supreme  moment  he  forgot  the  fact — forgot 
everything  save  the  intense  consciousness  of  his 
overwhelming  love  for  this  incomparably  beau- 
tiful woman  before  him,  the  strength  of  which 
love  he  had  never  before  had  the  least  conception. 

Life  could  hold  no  greater  bliss  for  him  than 
this.  "  Ruth,  my  darling,  my  darling!  "  he  was 
silently  whispering,  to  soothe  his  heart's  wild 
pleadings,  while  his  eyes  were  still  fixed  upon 
her  lovely  face. 

Instinctively,  drawn  by  the  magnetism  of  his 
gaze,  she  slowly  raised  her  beautiful  eyes  to  him. 
and  he,  looking  at  her  with  tenderly  bright  and 
penetrating  eyes,  saw  an  expression  flash  across 
her  face — an  expression  of  half  conscious  wonder 
and  revelation,  and  suddenly  a  strange  and  glo- 
rious light  broke  over  his  own  handsome  face,  as 
though  it  had  taken  its  radiance  from  the  bright- 
ness of  hers,  and  his  heart  leaped  with  an  ecstatic 
thrill.  He  saw,  too,  with  a  lightning  glance,  the 
futile  struggle  she  was  making  to  conceal  her 
sweet,  momentous  secret,  which  until  this  mo- 
ment she  had  guarded  so  well,  and  which  for 
months  he  had  been  longing  so  miserably  to 
know. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  235 

Id  an  instant  each  seemed  to  comprehend;  in 
the  full  sweet  meaning  of  the  next  few  minutes' 
silence,  which  seemed  to  last  an  eternity,  the 
old  life  for  each  had  suddenly  changed — the  old 
life  for  each  had  suddenly  ended  forever.  And 
now  that  the  inexorable  change  had  come — now 
that  each  knew  the  feelings  of  the  other  so  well 
— Dr.  Leslie  was  too  frank  and  honest  in  his  na- 
ture, too  proud  and  noble,  to  seek  any  subter- 
fuge or  concealment ;  and  now,  since  he  possessed 
the  sweet  secret  of  the  one  woman  in  all  the 
world  to  him — involuntarily  given  up  on  her 
part,  it  is  true — there  was  but  one  line  of  wis- 
dom and  duty  before  him,  but  one  right  and 
honorable  thing  for  him  to  do,  and  that  was  to 
ask  her  to  be  his  wife,  and  by  the  love  and  beauty 
and  rich  graces  of  her  pure  life,  make  his  own 
fuller,  brighter  and  nobler  for  all  time  to  come. 

But  why  did  he  linger  now,  even  for  a  mo- 
ment, his  mind  flashing  back  over  the  past  and 
rapidly  recalling  those  scenes  and  impressions 
associated  with  the  unaccountable  demeanor  of 
his  ward — but  which  unaccountable  things  he 
now  understood,  and  was  done  with  forever  ? 

While  Dr.  Leslie  stood  a  few  minutes  silently 
watching  her,  he  saw  that  the  critical  moment 
had  come  when  he  must  make  the  supreme  de- 
cision for  weal  or  woe,  involving  the  destinies  of 
two  human  lives,  and  he  wanted  a  higher  wis- 
dom than  his  own  to  guide  and  direct  him,  how- 
ever dominant  rose  his  love — however  urgently 
it  pleaded  to  be  heard. 

The  rosy  flush  had  deepened  in  Ruth's  cheek 
as  her  eyes  met  the  tender  appealing  passion  in 
her  guardian's  face — and  somehow  she  had  a 
sudden  consciousness  of  having  come  out  of  a 


2P>H  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

severe  coDfiict^of  an  unutterable  sense  of  relief 
as  of  some  burden  lifted — some  tension  relaxed 
that  had  been  too  tautly  drawn — and  then  of 
an  acquiescent  and  unconditional  surrender  of 
her  whole  being  to  a  stronger  power  which  had 
compelled  her  by  that  mysterious,  approximating 
influence,  uniting  two  souls  and  making  them  one 
by  their  mutual  love. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  '^'A7 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

During  the  next  interval  of  silence  that  fol- 
lowed, the  cathedral  clock  on  the  mantel  chimed 
out  low,  sweet  and  ti'iumphant.  like  a  promise 
of  joy,  the  passing  hour. 

For  a  moment  longei-  Dr.  Leslie's  mesmeric 
eyes,  irresistibly  appealing,  held  her,  evoking  a 
torturing,  passionate  thrill  almost  akin  to  pain 
in  her  own  soul,  which  had  ceased  its  tired, 
strange  wrestling,  because  it  had  no  more  force 
with  which  to  wrestle:  then  with  a  low,  uncon- 
scious sigh  she  turned  to  the  window  and  looked 
out. 

A  few  minutes  Dr.  Leslie  wavered.  He  was 
striving  to  control  the  tumult  of  passion,  thrill- 
ing through  every  fiber  of  his  inmost  being,  and 
which  settled  in  a  tender,  yearning  love  on  every 
feature.  Without  speaking  he  crossed  the  room 
and  stood  beside  her.  One  soft,  white  hand  which 
was  holding  the  curtain  aside  he  gently  took  with- 
in his  own  and  held  it.  The  little  hand  fluttered 
an  instant,  then  yielded  to  his  magnetic  touch, 
the  lovely  lips  trembled  with  an  almost  childish 
quiver,  but  she  did  not  turn  and  look  at  him. 

"  Ruth,  my  darling  —may  I  not  call  you  this '? 
— yes,  you  are  my  darling — will  you  not  listen 
to  me,  listen  to  a  story,  so  old  and  yet  so  new, 
and  one  that  I  have  been  waiting  and  longing  so 
eagerly  to  tell  you  ?  I  shall  not  force  the  recital 
of  my  love  upon  you,  though  an  inexorable  some- 
thing tells  me  that  I  may  break  the  voiceless 
trance  which  some  fairy  charm  has  woven  about 
my  heart,  while  star-eyed  Hope  bids  it  awake 
and  breathe  and  live   anew.       Ruth,    will   you 


238  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

not  bid  me  hope — oh,  will  you  not  bid  me  guard 
the  fountain  of  my  heart  with  ceaseless  care  to 
keep  its  waters  pure  and  bright  for  you  ?  ' ' 

She  turned  as  though  moved  by  some  extraor- 
dinary power  which  she  could  not  resist,  her  face 
glowing  with  an  exquisite  smile,  the  reflex  of  her 
loving  heart,  the  long  dark  lashes  half  conceal- 
ing the  new  divine  shyness  in  her  lovely  eyes, 
her  form  trembling,  and  for  a  few  seconds  she 
was  conscious  of  nothing  save  the  soft,  warm 
clasp  in  which  her  hand  was  held  by  the  man  to 
whom  her  whole  heart  and  soul  went  out  help- 
lessly, willingly,  and  yielded  up  all  she  had  to 
give — utterly  lost  in  the  weakness  of  her  pure, 
holy  love. 

Dr.  Leslie  dropped  her  hand.  His  face  softened 
and  radiated  with  a  glorious  light,  and  drawing 
her  to  him,  he  enfolded  her  tenderly  in  his  arms. 

' '  Ruth. ' '  he  said,  "when  first  I  looked  into  your 
lovely  face,  hope  rekindled  in  my  breast  and 
stirred  a  strange  emotion  down  in  my  heart  so 
full  of  its  clouded  memories.  In  that  moment, 
too,  the  memory  of  the  silent,  mournful  past 
came  back  to  me,  and  I  thought  of  another  face 
still  and  white,  yet  once  so  perfect  in  color  and 
form  and  feature,  with  its  wondrous  shining 
hair,  dreamlessly  sleeping  in  a  lonely  daisy-grown 
grave  far  away  in  a  distant  State.  Ruth,  that 
early  love,  that  fair  young  being  whom  I  loved 
with  all  the  first  passionate  warmth  of  my  ardent 
boyish  nature,  and  who  professed  to  return  my 
love,  was  cruelly  won  from  me  by  my  best  and 
dearest  friend — a  friend  whom  I  loved  and  trusted 
above  all  other  friends  I  ever  had." 

He  paused  and  looked  sadly  down  in  her  beau- 
tiful face :  when  he  spoke  again,  his  voice  seemed 
curiously  changed. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  239 


(( 


Do  you  know,  can  you  guess  at  all  who  that 
friend  of  my  boyhood  was  who  betrayed  my  con- 
fidence, wrecked  my  bright  hopes,  and  caused 
me  to  mistrust  all  human  nature,  and  almost 
lose  my  faith  in  things  divine  ?  Must  I  tell  you, 
darling  ?  ' ' 

She  turned  to  him  with  a  quick,  startled  look, 
the  flush  faded  out  of  her  cheek,  and  she  whis- 
pered: "  Yes;  go  on,  go  on,  and  tell  me  all." 

He  drew  her  closer  to  him,  and  tightened  his 
clasp,  as  though  no  eai'thly  power  should  rend 
her  from  his  side,  then  he  bent  and  kissed  her 
on  the  forehead,  the  first  kiss  he  ever  imprinted 
on  her  sweet,  lovely  face. 

' '  Darling,  I  have  startled  and  pained  you,  and 
perhaps  I  should  not  be  speaking  to  you  like  this, 
resurrecting  the  charred  ruins  of  my  buried  past 
so  fraught  with  painful  memories  I  would  for- 
get :  but  I  think  it  is  best  that  you,  my  pure, 
my  noble  Ruth,  you  whom  I  love  as  I  never 
loved  any  other  human  being,  and  who  has  be- 
come all  the  world  to  me,  should  know  at  least 
that  part  of  my  past  life,  the  knowledge  of  which, 
should  it  come  to  you  in  after  years,  and  from 
other  lips  than  mine,  might  cause  you  to  censure 
me  perhaps,  for  not  revealing  it  to  you  now. 
And  yet,  it  is  unspeakably  hard  for  me  to  tell 
you — to  reveal — "  he  paused  again. 

"To  reveal  the  name  of  the  friend  who  be- 
trayed you  ?  "  Ruth  asked,  with  an  effort  finish- 
ing the  sentence  for  him,  which  it  seemed  so 
hard  for  him  to  do,  and  looking  up  in  his  face 
with  breathless  interest. 

"  Yes,  because  that  friend  whom  I  loved  and 
trusted  as  never  one  man  loved  and  trusted  an- 
other— that  friend  who  came  so  near  wrecking 


240  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

my  whole  life  for  all  time  to  come,  but  whom  I 
have  long  ago  forgiven — was  none  other  than 
Frank  Arnold,  your  father,  whom  you  revere 
and  love  so  well ;  and  you,  my  beautiful,  precious 
one,  a  mysterious  providence  has  sent  to  me. 
after  the  lapse  of  all  these  years  as  the  sweet 
atonement  of  that  father's  wrong." 

Ruth  gazed  at  him.  her  eyes  wide  open  with 
misery  and  pain,  and  with  a  face  suddenly  grown 
deadly  white.  Then  a  shiver  ran  through  her 
frame,  she  uttered  a  low  cry  as  of  oue  who  had 
received  a  fatal  blow,  and  burying  her  face  in  her 
hands  moaned,  ' '  Oh,  no,  no,  it  cannot  be !  and 
all  these  months  I  did  not  know — all  these  months 
that  I,  Frank  Arnold's  child,  have  been  under 
your  roof  and  protecting  care  you  have  been  so 
good,  so  gentle,  so  noble,  so  kind  to  me.  You 
had  it  in  your  power  to  revenge  my  father's 
wrong — you — "  Ruth  stopped,  then  went  on 
hurriedly:  "  But  I  know  that  my  father  loved 
and  honored  you.  Dr.  Leslie;  for  whenever  he 
spoke  of  you  it  was  to  praise  and  bless  you,  and 
say  over  and  over  again  that  you  were  one  of  the 
noblest  of  men.  I  can  understand  now  why  all 
his  life  that  I  can  remember  him,  he  was  so  sad 
and  sorrowful,  so  patiently  enduring,  and  though 
he  wronged  you  in  his  early  years  by  his  reck- 
less course,  and  weak  and  erring  as  he  may  have 
been,  yet  God  forgave  him,  and  I  believe  that  he 
found  peace  and  comfort  if  not  happiness  during 
the  remaining  years  of  his  life  on  earth.  Oh, 
if  I  could  have  known  his  sad  history  sooner — 
known  it  before  he  left  me  for  his  better  home — 
how  I  should  have  strived  to  have  made  life 
brighter  and  happier  for  him  here.  Why  could 
I  not  have  known  till  he  was  dead  ?  Poor  father, 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  241 

how  hard  must  have  been  his  burden  to  bear, 
because  it  was  one  that  none  could  share.  And 
you,  my  best  friend,  how  can  I  ever  thank  you 
for  all  that  you  have  ever  done  for  me  ?  You 
have  been  to  me  father,  brother,  friend — ■'  she 
stopped  abruptl3\  pressing  her  burning  cheeks 
against  her  palms. 

Dr.  Leslie  raised  her  head,  took  down  her 
hands,  and  clasping  one  in  his,  turned  the  flushed 
face  confronting  his  own. 

"  Let  the  sad  past  forgotten  be,  my  dear  Ruth. 
We  have  no  power  to  recall  it  if  we  would.  It 
is  irrevocable.  Let  me  be  more  than  all  else,  in 
all  the  world,  to  you — more  than  father,  brother 
and  friend  included." 

In  that  moment  she  knew  that  he  was  indeed 
everything  in  all  the  world  to  her,  and  her  love 
for  him  had  been  the  secret  touchstone  which 
filled  her  life  with  hope  and  delight.  He  was  her 
king,  and  with  all  the  loyalty  of  a  devotee  before 
his  shrine,  her  heart  bowed  helplessly  and  ac- 
knowledged his  power — his  right  to  rule. 

He  raised  her  face,  while  a  sudden  shadow  fell 
over  his  own. 

"  What  is  it,  Ruth  ?  Is  there  a  conflict  between 
love  and  duty  ?  Have  I  been  too  unfair,  too  un- 
generous, too  exacting  ?  ' ' 

"  How  could  I  think  this  of  you  ?  "  she  said 
sweetly,  as  her  eyes  fell. 

"Oh,  Ruth,  don't  evade  me,"  he  entreated. 
"  Will  my  love  atone  for  all  ?  Will  it  make  you 
supremely  happy  ?  Will  it  make  you  content  ? 
Ruth — darling — will  you  be  my  wife  ?  ' " 

He  spoke  with  force  and  pathos  out  of  the 
depths  of  a  loving  heart,  and  aU  the  passion 
within  him  seemed  to  reach  its  climax  in  those 


242  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

tender,  pleading  words.  He  bent  his  head  low- 
to  hers,  both  voice  and  face  eagerly  questioning. 
Ruth's  eyes  darkened  rapturously.  Every 
feature  softened.  She  looked  at  him  in  silence, 
but  Dr.  Leslie  had  his  answer. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  243 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  next  morning,  while  Ruth  was  standing 
before  the  mirror  arranging  her  hair,  pleasantly 
reviewing  the  events  of  the  previous  day,  she 
heard  a  light,  quick  step  come  bounding  down 
the  corridor,  pause  at  the  door,  knock  hastily, 
and  before  she  could  answer  it,  Nellie,  bright 
and  fresh  as  a  sunbeam,  burst  into  the  room, 
carrying  a  basket  of  exquisite  cut  flowers. 

"  I'll  bet  you  can't  guess  who  sent  you  these. 
Cousin  Ruth,"  she  said,  smiling  and  holding  up 
the  basket  before  her.  ' '  Look,  did  you  ever  see 
anything  so  pretty  ?  " 

"Oh,  how  lovely!  The  most  beautiful  flow- 
ers I  ever  saw.  Those  roses  are  superb.  Where 
did  they  come  from — and  are  they  really  for  me, 
Nellie  ?  "  she  asked,  eagerly  offering  to  take  the 
basket.     "  Who  sent  them  '?  " 

Nellie  suddenly  skipped  backwards,  holding 
the  basket  beyond  her  reach. 

"  No,  siree;  you've  got  to  guess,"  she  laughed 
gayly.  ' '  You  may  have  three  guesses,  and 
then  if  you  miss,  I'll — I'll — well  I  don't  believe 
I'll  give  them  to  you  at  all," 

"  Oh,  Nellie,  you  are  such  a  tease.  Was  it 
Mrs.  Grayson?"  she  said,  after  a  moment's 
pause. 

"  No,  it  wasn't  Mrs.  Grayson,"  returned  Nel- 
lie, mimetically,  shaking  her  curly  head.  "Guess 
again. ' ' 

"Miss  Leary?" 

"  No,  it  wasn't  Miss  Kate,  neither.  Now  you 
haven't  got  but  one  more  guess,  and  if  yoa  miss 
this  time  you  lose  the  flowers.     Try  again," 


24^4  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Nellie  stepped  back  a  tew  paces  nearer  the 
door. 

"That's  hardly  fair.  Nellie,"  returned  Ruth, 
laughing,  "  and  I  can't  believe  you'll  be  so  un- 
gracious. Tell  me.  was  it  any  one  from  the 
Academy "?  Now  remembei'  that  doesn't  count 
for  a  guess." 

"  Oh,  yes  it  does,  yes  it  does,  and  you've  lost 
the  flowers,"  cried  Nellie  triumphantly,  and  she 
laughed  outright.  "  It  wasn't  any  one  from  the 
Academy,  or  anywhere  else.  It  was  Uncle 
Ralph  who  sent  them;  that's  who  it  was.  See, 
here's  his  card  with  his  name  on  it,  and  a 
'  Merry  Christmas  '  to  you.  I  can't  read,  but  he 
told  me  what  was  on  it  when  he  gave  me  the 
basket  to  bring  you." 

Ruth  started.  A  quick  flush  of  rosy  color 
spread  over  her  face  and  neck  and  deepened  into 
scarlet. 

"  Why,  Cousin  Ruth,  what  makes  you  blush 
so  ?  You  are  perfectly  beautiful.  I  just  wish 
Uncle  Ralph  could  see  you  now;  he'd  think  you 
are  prettier  than  these  flowers.  Yes,  you  may 
have  'em,"  she  went  on,  "  but  you've  got  to  let 
me  put  my  arms  around  your  neck  and  squeeze 
you  real  tight,  because  I  love  you  so.  Cousin 
Ruth,"  she  said,  handing  her  the  basket, 

"Now  let  me  kiss  you  just  one  time  for  Uncle 
Ralph,"  she  added;  "  for  I  know  he  thinks  the 
world  of  you,  Cousin  Ruth.  He  can't  help  it.  I 
heard  him  talking  to  mamma  about  you  this 
morning.  I  don't  know  what  he  said,  but  I  heard 
mamma  sa}",  'oh,  I  am  so  glad!'  Come,  let's  go 
down  now.  Breakfast  is  almost  ready,  and  you 
are  ready,  too.  You've  finished  fixing  your  hair 
and  it  looks  ever  so  nice." 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  245 

"  Oh,  you  must  let  me  change  my  dress  first. 
I  can't  go  down  with  my  dressing  gown  on, 
you  know." 

"No,  no;  don't  take  off  that  dress,  Cousin 
Euth,  you  look  so  pretty  in  it.  You  know  you 
are  just  beautiful  all  the  time,  but  you  do  look 
perfectly  lovely  this  morning.  I  heard  Aunt 
Milly  tell  Cousin  Joe's  cook  the  other  day  that 
she  didn't  believe  the  angels  in  heaven  were  a 
bit  prettier  than  you  are,  and  she  knew  they 
wern't  any  sweeter,  and  she  meant  it,  too." 

Nellie  stood  beside  the  bureau,  resting  her  elbow 
on  the  slab,  supporting  her  dimpled  chin  in  her 
little  pink  palms,  while  she  gazed  up  at  Ruth 
with  a  world  of  admiration  i]i  her  pretty  face. 

"flush,  Nellie,"  laughed  Euth,  with  such  a 
low,  happy  laugh.  "  I  believe  you  and  Aunt 
Milly  are  my  most  enthusiastic  admirers.  But 
it  is  very  kind  of  Aunt  Milly  to  even  think  such 
pleasant  things  about  me,  and  I'm  very  much 
obliged  to  her,  I'm  sure.  Now  tell  me,  Nellie, 
what  did  Santa  Claus  bring  you  last  night?" 
she  said,  changing  the  subject  from  herself. 

Euth  had  quite  finished  dressing,  and  stood 
before  the  mirror  fastening  in  the  bosom  of  her 
dress  a  cluster  of  sweet  violets  which  she  had 
taken  from  the  basket  that  Nellie  brought  her. 

She  had  changed  the  white  cashmere  dressing 
gown  which  Nellie  thought  had  made  her  look 
so  beautiful,  for  an  electric  blue  velvet,  severely 
plain,  yet  very  becoming,  and  which  simply 
heightened  a  beauty  that  no  art  could  adorn. 
She  wore  no  ornament  except  a  small  diamond 
brooch  which  Mrs.  Grayson  had  given  her  on  her 
last  birthday,  and  the  tiny  cluster  of  white  vio- 
lets she  had  taken  from  the  basket. 


246  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Why  did  she  hnger  over  her  toilet  this  morn- 
ing with  such  critical  eyes  ?  Why  so  fastidious 
about  every  httle  detail  of  her  dress  ? 

For  one  brief  moment  she  stood  and  scanned 
herself  from  head  to  foot,  then  smiled,  a  smile 
entirely  apart  from  vanity,  but  of  perfect  hap- 
piness, which  was  echoing  and  reechoing  to  the 
sweetest  music  in  her  joyous  heart. 

As  Ruth  reached  the  dining-room,  Virgil  was 
just  leaving  the  room  to  execute  some  order  for 
Mrs.  Grayson,  but  as  soon  as  he  saw  Ruth  he 
stepped  back,  opened  the  door  for  her,  saw  her 
in,  bowed  and  passed  on.  These  little  courtesies 
which  Virgil  was  always  so  ready  to  show  her 
were  done  with  an  air  of  perfect  good  breeding, 
and  which  Ruth  accepted  not  as  a  matter  of 
course,  but  always  with  a  smile  and  a  sweet 
"  thank  you.'" 

Beside  the  window,  looking  out  on  the  rose 
garden,  but  which  at  this  season  of  the  year  was 
innocent  of  bloom,  stood  Dr.  Leslie  and  Mrs. 
Grayson  deep  in  conversation,  the  warm  sun- 
shine streaming  in  aslant  the  cheerful  room, 
making  a  glow  of  picturesque  radiance,  and 
flooding  the  spot  where  they  stood.  She  saw 
the  glow  upon  her  guardian's  face,  a  glow  not 
made  by  sunlight.  The  next  moment  he  came 
forward  to  meet  her,  the  light  of  his  great  love 
in  his  eyes,  and  a  smile  on  his  lips. 

"  My  dear  Ruth!  Good-morning  and  a  Happy 
Christmas!" 

"•  Thank  you,"  was  all  she  could  say,  blushing 
violently  despite  herself,  and  she  was  almost 
grateful  that  Mrs.  Grayson  gave  her  no  time  to 
reply,  for  just  then  she  approached  and  kissed 
her,   and  Ruth  felt  instinctively,  even  in  that 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  2J:T 

moment — and  she  was  glad,  too — that  Dr.  Leshe 
had  ah'eady  shared  his  confidence  with  his  sister. 

"  If  you  are  not  going  anywhere  particularly, 
dear,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  as  they  sat  at  break- 
fast, "  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  you  accompany  me 
to  Calvary  Chapel.  There  is  to  be  a  very  beau- 
tiful and  impressive  service  held  there  by  the 
Sunday  School  of  that  church  this  afternoon, 
and  as  it  is  to  be  a  love-feast,  and  you've  never 
attended  one,  I  think  you  will  enjoy  it.  I  have 
invitations  for  both  of  us,  and  Nellie,  too." 

"  Certainly  I  will  go.  I  remember  I  was  very 
anxious  to  attend  the  Christmas  service  there 
last  winter,  but  for  some  cause  was  disappointed. 
Do  they  have  the  little  wax  tapers  on  this  occa- 
sion ?"  Ruth  asked.  "  I  should  like  to  see  that, 
too,  and  I  imagine  that  the  whole  service  must 
be  exceedingly  interesting  and  beautiful." 

"  So  it  is.  Yes,  after  the  love-feast  of  sweet 
buns  and  coffee,  which  you  know  are  handed  on 
trays  by  six  ladies  and  six  gentlemen — then 
comes  the  service  of  the  light  bearers." 

' '  But  how  is  the  love-feast  served  ?  I  mean, 
does  the  congregation  sit  or  stand,  at  this  par- 
ticular service  ? ' ' 

"  Oh,  they  are  seated,  my  dear.  I  thought 
you  knew.  The  coffee  is  served  in  China  mugs 
with  milk  and  sugar  already  prepared — the  same 
as  their  other  love-feasts — and  the  buns  served 
upon  the  lap.  While  partaking  of  this,  the  choir 
renders  some  fine  anthems,  alternating  with 
hymns  by  the  congregation.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  service,  little  wax  candles  about  four 
inches  in  length  are  distributed  to  all  present, 
then  lighted  and  permitted  to  burn  until  the 
close  of  the  service.     As  the  congregation  passes 


248  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 

from  the  church  with  these  twinkUng  hghts,  it 
looks  like  a  sort  of  mystic  procession,  and  the 
scene  is  very  pretty  and  attractive  indeed." 

' '  But  what  is  it  intended  to  symbolize  ?  * ' 
Euth  asked,  with  the  eagerness  of  a  child.  "  I 
know  you'll  think  I  am  uupardonably  ignorant 
about  this  beautiful  custom  of  the  Moravians, 
after  being  here  as  long  as  I  have,  but  it  is  not 
too  late  to  learn,  I  hope." 

' '  No.  I  dare  say  there  are  very  many  persons 
who  have  been  here  much  longer  than  you  have, 
who  know  no  more,  and  even  less,  than  you  do 
about  it.  It  is  symbolical  of  the  light  which 
Christ  brought  into  the  world,  and  like  all  the 
religious  services  and  customs  of  our  Moravian 
brethren,  who  by  precept  and  example  preach  the 
true  •  unity  of  the  brethren  of  Christ.  ^  makes  life 
great  to  the  thought  and  experiences  of  others. 
Certainly  there  is  no  greater  achievement  and 
service,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  gently. 

"  Ruth,  won't  you  oblige  me  with  a  few  min- 
utes conversation  in  the  library  ?  "  said  Dr.  Les- 
lie as  they  left  the  table.  ' '  I  shall  not  detain 
you  long. ' ' 

She  paused,  gave  him  a  quick,  questioning 
glance  and  asked: 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  me  this  morning  ?  " 

""  Yes.  now,  if  you  can  spare  the  time,  and  it 
will  not  interfere  w^ith  any  other  arrangement. ' ' 

"  No,  not  in  the  least,"  she  answered. 

''  Then  wait  for  me  in  the  library,  please,  and 
I'll  join  you  in  a  few  minutes." 

He  turned  away  at  once  and  went  toward  his 
study,  and  Ruth  went  to  the  library,  where  she 
waited,  listening,  not  to  the  sound  of  revelry 
and  gay  laughter  which  filled  the  merry  world 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  249 

outside,  but  for  the  sound  of  a  footstep  which 
she  not  only  knew  so  well,  but  had  learned  so 
eagerly  to  listen  for.  The  next  moment  she 
caught  the  sound  of  his  step  in  the  hall,  then 
through  the  open  doorway,  and  Dr.  Leslie,  smil- 
ing and  looking  handsomer,  she  thought,  than 
she  had  ever  seen  him,  came  toward  her. 

''  Come  with  me  to  the  window,  Ruth.  I  have 
something  to  show  you.'"  She  rose  and  went 
over  to  the  window,  pushing  aside  the  heavy 
curtain  to  broaden  the  light.  He  handed  her  a 
handsome  mother-of-pearl  jewelry  case,  and 
while  she  held  it,  he  touched  the  spring  and  the 
Ud  flew  back,  disclosing  another  open,  velvet- 
lined  case  containing  an  exquisitely  chased  gold 
ring,  set  with  a  magnificent  emerald  encircled 
with  small  pearls. 

' '  Oh,  how  perfectly  beautiful ! ' '  said  Ruth, 
her  radiant  face  expressive  of  her  pleasure  and 
admiration.     ''  An  emerald,  isn't  it  ?  " 

''  Yes,  a  North  Carolina  emerald,  or  a  green 
diamond. ' ' 

"What,  the  Hiddenite,  which  is  found  in  Alex- 
ander County  and  called  for  Mr.  W.  E.  Hidden, 
of  New  Jersey,  who  identified  the  mineral  ?  '' 

"  Yes,  the  same.  But  the  specimens  of  the 
native  crystals  were,  however,  in  the  possession 
of  a  Mr.  Stevenson,  of  Statesville,  for  several 
years  prior  to  this  time  (1881).  To  the  energy 
of  Mr.  Hidden,  however,  is  due  its  introduction 
as  a  gem  of  commercial  value. 

"  Is  it  found  in  no  other  State  ?  "  asked  Ruth, 
and  she  held  the  ring  up  to  the  light  again  so 
that  the  sun's  rays  would  flash  through  it.  turn- 
ing it  from  side  to  side. 

"  No,    only  in  North   Carolina.     It   has  been 

17 


250  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

said  that  every  gem  known  to  the  lapidary  has 
been  found  in  the  United  States,  but  by  far  the 
largest  variety  are  found  in  North  Carolina. 
We  have  one  of  the  richest  gold  producing  States, 
too.  in  the  Union.  It  is  recorded  that  Sultan 
Mahniond  selfishly  exhausted  the  famous  mines 
of  Golconda  to  enrich  his  own  treasury;  but  it 
will  be  many  years  before  the  wealth  of  the 
mines  of  North  Carolina,  the  Golconda  of  the 
South,  will  be  appreciably  lessened,  and  then 
not  a  single  individual,  but  the  whole  country 
will  profit  by  their  despoilment."" 

Ruth  replaced  the  ring  in  its  tiny  velvet  box, 
shut  the  case  and  handed  it  back  to  her  guardian. 
■'  It  IS  indeed  very  beautiful — in  fact,  the  most 
beautiful  ring  of  the  kind  I  have  ever  seen,  and 
I  thank  vou  for  allowing  me  the  privilege  to  see 
it.'^ 

"  I  am  glad  you  like  it,''  he  said,  and  opening 
the  box  he  took  the  ring  out  again. 

"•Ruth,  I  had  this  ring  made  at  Tiffany's  in 
New  York  purposely  for  you,  and  intendtd  to 
ask  you  to  accept  it  on  your  last  birthday.  This 
emerald  was  first  surrounded  by  small  opals, 
also  native  gems  and  very  elegant.  But  a  few 
days  before  I  received  the  ring  from  New  York 
I  heard  you  say  to  Miss  Leary,  whether  in 
earnest  or  jest  I  do  not  know,  though  I  think  it 
was  in  a  jesting  way,  that  nothing  could  induce 
you  to  wear  a  brooch  or  ring  set  with  an  un- 
lucky opal  or  opals.  Knowing  that  many  per- 
sons are  superstitious  about  that  gem — though  I 
have  rather  a  weakness  for  them  myself — I  re- 
turned the  ring  to  Tiffany's,  had  the  opals 
removed,  and  the  ring  reset  with  these  pearls, 
and  when  I  received  it  a  second  time,  the  first 


IN    THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  251 

day  of  December  had  passed,  so  I  decided  to 
keep  it  and  ask  your  acceptance  of  it  as  a  Christ- 
mas gift  from  your  guardian. ' ' 

He  could  not  avoid  smihng,  and  he  bent  his 
head  and  looked  into  the  flushed  dimpling  face. 
''  What  are  you  looking  so  puzzled  about  ?  "  he 
asked,  noting,  as  he  was  so  quick  to  do,  any 
change  that  came  over  her  lovely  features.  "  I 
haven't  forgotten  our  compact,  Euth, "  he  went 
on  more  seriously.  "  Remember,  I  bind  you  by 
no  contract  or  promise.  You  are  as  free  as  the 
air  you  breathe,  my  dear.  This  little  circlet  is  no 
liadge  of  bondage,  but  simply  a  token  of  my 
esteem  and  love  for  you,  and  such  a  token  as  I 
would  have  asked  your  acceptance  of  before  the 
old  relationship  between  us  had  ceased  to  exist," 

She  held  out  both  hands  to  him  with  a  frank, 
sweet  smile.  ' '  You  are  very  good,  Dr.  Leslie ; 
pray  forgive  me  and  do  not  think  I  am  unappre- 
ciative.  I  do  thank  you  for  your  beautiful  gift, 
which  I  will  accept  and  wear.  But,  believe  me, 
I  did  not  hesitate  because  I  thought  you  in- 
tended this  as  an  engagement  ring — but — but — I 
was  thinking — "  whatever  she  intended  to  say 
was  never  said. 

Dr.  Leslie  clasped  the  soft  white  hands,  and 
with  a  sudden  impulse  bent  his  head  and  kissed 
them.  Then  he  slipped  the  glittering  circlet 
upon  her  slender  finger,  still  retaining  her  hand 
in  his.  "  I  only  hope  it  may  prove  a  link  in  our 
future  destiny,"  he  said  earnestly;  "  a  link  that 
will  be  as  endless  and  beautiful  as  the  ring  itself. 
Did  you  read  the  inscription  on  the  inside, 
Ruth  ?  "  he  asked,  somewhat  doubtfully. 

"  No,  I  didn't  know  there  was  one,"  she  said, 
and  then  she  let  him  take  off  the  ring  and  show 


252  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

it  to  her.  "  Semper  Fidelis,'"  she  read,  with  a 
trembhng  note  in  her  sweet  voice  and  a  deepen- 
ing of  the  clear  rose-pink  of  her  cheek. 

"  Did  you  count  the  pearls  ?  " 

"  No,  why  ?  "  Ruth  looked  up  at  him  again, 
wondering  and  puzzled. 

He  took  his  pencil,  and  while  he  held  her  hand 
with  the  ring  on  it,  counted  slowly  each  little 
pearl.  "  Nineteen,""  he  said  aloud,  then  looked 
up. 

"  Oh,  laughed  Ruth  comprehendingly,  the 
puzzled  expression  giving  place  to  a  bewitching- 
smile.  "  Indeed,  I  scarcely  realize  that  I  am  so 
old." 

"  There  is  no  need  to  try, "  he  said  lightly, 
and  he  looked  at  her  with  a  laugh. 

There  was  a  light  rap  outside  of  the  door,  and 
Virgil,  noisily  rattling  the  portiere  over  the 
arched  doorway,  put  in  his  head.  Dr.  Leslie 
looked  up  expectantly. 

"  T  beg  pardon,  sir;  but  your  horse  is  ready. 
You  told  me  to  let  you  know.'' 

"x4.ll  right,  Virgil,  I'll  be  out  in  a  few  miuutes. ' ' 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  253 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

It  was  toward  the  close  of  January  that  the 
winter  had  set  in  with  a  severity  almost  un- 
known in  this  beautiful  Southern  city.  The 
suffering  was  unprecedented.  The  relief  socie- 
ties were  quite  at  their  wits'  end.  Numbers  of 
ladies  were  kept  busy  all  over  the  city,  dispen- 
sing the  aid  extended  by  the  good  and  benevolent. 

It  was  late  one  rainy,  dreary  afternoon  that 
Mrs.  Grayson  returned  home  from  one  of  these 
benevolent  expeditions,  complaining  of  a  sensi- 
ble chilliness  and  a  severe  headache.  Dr.  Leslie, 
watching  her  closely,  was  struck  by  her  ex- 
treme pallor.  When  supper  was  over,  and  they 
had  left  the  table,  he  said  to  her: 

"  Helen,  I  see  that  you  are  not  well  this  even- 
ing, and  in  justice  to  yourself,  you  must  give 
up  your  benevolent  work  for  a  day  or  two  and 
keep  perfectly  quiet.  You've  over  tired  your- 
self.'^ 

"  I  hope  I  am  not  going  to  be  ill,  Ralph  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  hope  not — but  do  be  more  careful,"  he 
said,  encouragingly. 

"  I'm  so  anxious  to  keep  up  just  now.  No,  I 
hope  I  am  not  going  to  be  ill.  But  if  I  should, ' ' 
she  hesitated — "  if  I  should,  Ralph,  promise  me 
that  vou'll  send  for  Carl." 

"  Now  don't  be  conjuring  up  fancies  to  worry 
over,  Helen,"'  said  Dr.  Leslie  brightly.  "A 
good  night's  rest  and  a  day  or  two's  quiet  may 
bring  you  round  all  right  again. ' ' 

''  But  Carl  ?  ''  she  gently  persisted. 

'*•  Yes,  Helen,  certainly,  if  you  wish  it  he  shall 
come  home.  But  I  hope  there  will  be  no  need 
for  his  coming.    When  did  you  hear  from  him  ?" 


254  UNDER    GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

' '  On  Monday  I  had  a  long  letter  from  him. ' ' 

She  made  a  motion  to  rise.  There  was  a  sud- 
den shrinking  and  hesitation — then  a  spasmodic 
effort  to  get  up  again.  A  change  came  over  her 
— her  face  turned  ghastly  white  and  she  said 
huskily : 

' '  I  can  not — I  can  not, ' '  reaching  out  her  hands 
in  a  kind  of  protest  against  her  own  helplessness. 

"  You  must  not  even  try,"  said  her  brother, 
bending  over  her.  "  Be  perfectly  quiet.  Helen. 
I'll  put  you  on  the  sofa  and  then  go  for  Julia." 

In  the  hall  he  met  Julia  and  Nellie  on  their 
way  to  Mrs.  Grayson's  room. 

"  Julia,  Mrs.  Grayson  is  not  very  well;  she  is 
lying  down  in  her  room.  Get  her  ready  for  bed 
at  once;  I'm  going  to  my  office  for  some  medi- 
cine, so  stay  with  her  until  I  return. 

When  he  presently  returned  to  Mrs.  Gray- 
son's room  he  found  her  in  bed,  the  shaded  lamp 
turned  low,  and  Julia  sitting  by  the  bedside. 
Dr.  Leslie  bent  over  his  sister  as  she  lay  back 
with  closed  eyes,  among  her  pillows,  and  in  the 
dim  light  she  seemed  scarcely  breathing. 

"  Helen,"  he  called  softly,  "let  me  give  you 
your  medicine  now." 

She  opened  her  eyes  and  looked  up  at  him  in 
silence.  Then  she  tried  to  raise  her  head,  but 
dropped  back,  her  weakness  asserting  itself.  He 
passed  his  arm  tenderly  under  her  head,  lifted 
her,  and  taking  the  glass  which  Julia  held  gave 
her  the  draught. 

A  few  minutes  later  he  crossed  to  the  seat 
which  Juha  had  vacated  by  Mrs.  Grayson's  bed- 
side, sat  down  and  leaning  forward,  watched  the 
significant  signs  of  change  in  her  face  and  lis- 
tened to  her  respiration. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  255 

The  opiate  had  taken  effect,  and  her  breatliiug 
was  hghter  and  less  painful. 

In  the  silence  that  followed,  the  door  opened 
slowly  and  Aunt  Milly  came  in  noiselessly. 

'*  Doctor,  you  go  to  bed  when  you  get  sleepy." 
she  said,  "  and  I'll  sit  up  with  Miss  Helen.  I've 
nussed  her  too  many  times  not  to  know  how  to 
take  care  of  her  now.  Suppose  you  let  me  sit 
up  the  first  hours  before  midnight,  and  I  can 
wake  you  at  12  o'clock,  an'  then  you  can  sit  up 
the  rest  of  the  night, "  Aunt  Milly  persisted  trem- 
ulously.  ''I  don't  like  to  leave  Miss  Helen  now. " 

''  I  know — but  not  to-night,  Aunt  Milly.  I 
think  it  is  best  for  me  to  stay  by  her,  though  I 
thank  you  for  offering. ' ' 

"  Then  I'll  be  in  Nellie's  room  all  night.  If 
you  need  me,  call  me, ' '  and  with  a  deep  sobbing 
breath  which  seemed  to  shake  her  from  head  to 
foot  she  turned  away. 

Hour  after  hour  crept  slowly  by,  and  still  he 
sat  there  all  through  the  night,  keeping  his 
lonely  vigil. 

In  spite  of  his  tenderness  and  devotion,  in 
spite  of  all  his  medical  skill  and  experience,  he 
knew  that  he  could  not  avert  her  threatened 
danger. 

About  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  Mrs.  Gray- 
son awoke  with  a  low  moan  and  a  little  shiver, 
and  Dr.  Leslie  saw  at  once  that  a  feverish  weak- 
ness had  set  in  which  seemed  to  exhaust  all  the 
strength  she  had  left.  She  lay  awake  for 
a  little  while,  her  eyes  wandering  restlessly 
around  the  room,  then  they  stopped  and  rested 
wearily  on  her  brother. 

' '  Helen,  do  you  wish  anything  ?  How  do  you 
feel?"  he  asked  quietly,  anxiously  watching  her 


;25(i  UNDER    GOLDEN   SKIES :    OR, 

face,  which  looked  almost  as  white  as  the  pillow 
on  which  she  lay. 

She  did  not  answer  him,  but  tried  to  give  him 
her  hand,  which  fell  back  upon  the  cover,  but 
he  raised  it  and  held  it  in  his,  stroking  it  in  a 
gentle,  soothing  way. 

She  closed  her  eyes  without  speaking,  and 
soon  dropped  into  a  feverish  sleep. 

' '  How  was  it  that  she  came  to  be  so  ill  ?  "  he 
asked  himself.  Her  illness  had  rapidly  taken  a 
dangerous  turn.  During  the  long  hours  of  the 
night  that  he  had  watched  by  her  bedside,  he 
had  formed  his  plans  resolutely,  and  as  he  always 
made  these  with  careful  thoughts,  he  carried 
them  out  promptly. 

When  the  clock  struck  six,  he  went  into  the 
nursery  and  summoned  Aunt  Miliy.  and  when 
she  came  he  cautioned  her  what  to  do  while  he 
was  absent  from  the  room.  He  was  going  for 
a  walk  in  the  open  air.  He  knew  a  brisk  walk 
out  in  the  crisp,  cold  air,  with  its  wonderful 
purity  and  freshness  would  prove  a  perfect  tonic 
to  him ;  and  so  it  did,  for  by  the  time  he  re- 
turned he  felt  strengthened  and  quite  ready  for 
the  difficult  fight  which  he  knew  inevitably 
faced  him. 

Nellie  was  sincerely  miserable  when  she  saw 
the  sad,  anxious  look  on  her  uncle's  face,  and  it 
was  with  a  very  heavy  heart  that  she  prepared 
her  lessons  for  the  first  time  without  her  mother's 
assistance. 

After  breakfast  Dr.  Leslie  wrote  a  note  to 
I^Iiss  Rachel  and  dispatched  Virgil  with  it.  tell- 
ing her  of  Mrs.  Grayson's  condition  and  asking 
her  to  come  to  her  at  once.  He  wrote  to  Ruth 
at  the  same  time,  but  he  said  nothing  about  her 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  257 

retuniing  home.  An  hour  later  Miss  Eachel 
arrived. 

Late  that  afternoon,  as  he  sat  at  the  desk  in 
the  hbrary,  his  back  turned  to  the  door,  writing 
and  apparently  absorbed  in  his  occupation,  he 
became  suddenly  conscious  of  a  faint,  familiar 
odor  of  violets,  and  the  next  moment  was  roused 
by  a  soft  touch  on  his  shoulder  and  a  low  musi- 
cal voice  saying: 

''  Forgive  me.  Dr.  Leslie,  for  troubling  you  — " 
and  looking  up  quickly  an  expression  of  astonish- 
ment mingled  vith  joy  came  into  his  face,  and 
the  next  instant  he  rose  smiling,  with  a  tender 
exclamation  of  delight,  and  took  his  visitor  by 
the  hand.  ''  Ruth,  my  darling!  How  is  it  that 
you  are  here  so  soon  ?  Oome  to  the  fire  and 
warm  these  little  hands.  It  is  bitter  cold  out." 
He  wheeled  a  large  chair  before  the  glowing 
grate,  and  when  she  was  seated,  he  looked  down 
into  the  flushed  face  inquiringly  and  searchingly. 
He  thought  he  detected  tiaces  of  tears  on  her 
cheeks.  She  raised  her  head  and  their  eyes  met 
for  one  brief  moment,  but  she  saw  in  them  a 
meaning  which  she  had  often  seen  before,  but 
which  now  no  longer  baffled  analysis. 

Then  he  drew  a  chair  near  her  and  sat  down, 
with  a  sort  of  gentle  authority  as  though  she  be- 
longed to  him,  but  in  a  most  winning  and  con- 
siderate way,  took  her  hand,  saying,  "Allow  me 
to  take  these  off  for  you — "  and  began  undoing 
her  gloves  as  carefully  and  easily  as  she  would 
have  done  it  herself,  and  then  put  them  on  her 
lap. 

There  was  not  a  word  of  tenderness  spoken; 
he  merely  raised  the  little  hand  and  pressed  it, 
and  touched  it  to  his  lips.   She  could  not  restrain 


258  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 

a  smile  while  he  busied  himself  removing  her 
gloves,  though  her  heart  was  very  sad ;  but  she 
was  so  susceptible  to  the  gentle  and  soothing- 
influences  of  those  around  her — and  above  all 
those  of  her  guardian,  for  he  seemed  to  lay  aside 
so  entirely  all  thought  of  self,  and  somehow  con- 
trived to  infuse  others  with  a  strengthening  and 
tranquilizing  sense  of  his  loving  sympathy.  She 
saw  that  his  look  and  manner  were  tenderly 
grave — more  so  than  she  had  ever  seen  them 
before;  but  he  was  gentleness  itself,  and  she 
could  not  help  thinking  as  she  watched  him, 
that  his  face  even  in  its  gravity  was  the  hand- 
somest and  noblest  she  had  ever  seen. 

''  You  see,  I  couldn't  wait,*"  she  began,  hold- 
ing a  hand  up  to  shield  her  face  from  the  bright 
heat.  '■'  I  felt  so  anxious  about  Mrs.  Grayson 
that  I  asked  Principal  Cordell  to  let  me  come. 
I  came  to  help  nurse  Mrs.  Grayson,  and  you 
really  must  allow  me  to  do  this  for  her."' 

"  Have  you  ever  been  much  in  a  sick  room  ?  "■ 

She  glanced  up  at  him  quickly :  a  sudden 
change  came  over  her  face  and  her  voice  fal- 
tered: "No.  not  a  great  deal;  I  nursed  papa 
through  his  last  illness.  He  seemed  not  to  want 
any  one  else  near  him — "  she  paused,  rose  and 
turned  away  to  hide  the  tears  in  her  eyes.  Dr. 
Leslie  rose,  too,  a  tender  gleam  in  his  dark  gray 
eyes,  and  he  strecthed  out  his  arms  longingly  as 
if  to  enfold  her  in  them,  but  checked  himself 
and  let  them  fall  to  his  side.  Euth  did  not  ob- 
serve the  yearning  movement. 

"  I'll  go  to  my  room  now,  and  lay  my  things 
aside,""  she  said.  "  Shall  I  find  you  here  when 
[  return  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes,  I  will  wait  for  you  here." 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  259 

When  she  came  down-stairs  he  was  standing 
at  the  foot  of  the  steps  talking  to  Miss  Rachel, 
whose  back  was  turned  toward  her.  As  soon  as 
she  caught  the  grave  look  on  his  face,  and  the 
intense  depression  of  his  manner,  her  heart  sank 
with  a  strange  dread.  In  an  instant  he  tried  to 
rally  when  he  saw  the  sweet  questioning  eyes 
brilliant  with  tears  looking  down  at  him.  Be- 
fore he  had  time  to  speak,  Miss  Rachel  glanced 
over  her  shoulder,  with  a  look  of  surprise,  then 
turned  quickly  round  and  kissed  the  troubled 
face  bending  toward  her. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  child.  I  did  not  know 
you  had  come,"  she  said.  "You  had  a  cold  ride. 
It  is  raw  outside."  She  stood  still  a  moment, 
listening  to  a  sound  of  voices  which  came  from 
or  beyond  Mrs.  Grayson's  room,  and  without 
waiting  to  say  another  word  she  turned  and 
walked  swiftly  away.  For  a  moment  after  Miss 
Rachel  had  left  them,  Dr.  Leslie  stood  silent, 
watching  Ruth  compassionately. 

"What  is  it?"  she  said,  "what  is  the  mat- 
ter ? ' '  and  she  held  her  hands  out  to  him  as 
though  to  keep  herself  from  falling.  "  How  is 
Mrs.  Grayson  ?  Do  let  me  go  to  her;  and  don't 
keep  anything  from  me.  for  I  can  stand  any- 
thing better  than  this  awful  suspense." 

He  took  the  soft  trembling  hands  and  held 
them  as  tenderly  as  if  they  had  been  a  little 
child's. 

"  Ruth,  try  to  calm  yourself,  my  dear.  I  am 
going  to  take  you  in  to  see  Mrs.  Grayson,  but 
after  to-day  I  shall  exclude  everyone  from  her 
sick-room  except  those  in  immediate  attendance 
upon  her. ' ' 


260  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  time  wore  slowly  on,  and  all  through  the 
dreary  days  that  followed  Ruth  seemed  to  have 
forgotten  how  to  reckon  their  coming  and  going. 

After  fever  had  set  in  Mrs.  Grayson  was  for 
days  unconscious  to  everything  around  her,  but 
throughout  all  her  delirium  the  one  link  which 
seemed  to  hind  her  to  life  and  reason— the  one 
name  which  she  ever  called  was  Carl — Carl. 

It  was  as  Dr.  Leslie  had  said,  "  a  shadow  as 
of  death  brooded  over  the  house;'' and  despite 
the  fact  that  the  doctor  who  regularly  came  and 
went  had  almost  given  up  his  patient,  still  Ruth 
refused  to  allow  the  terrible  suspense  and  dread 
which  hung  over  them  to  cause  her  to  give  way 
to  despair,  but  with  an  effort  of  will  such  as  she 
had  never  been  called  upon  to  exercise  before, 
she  restrained  her  emotions,  hoped  on  against 
liope,  and  though  it  cost  her  a  hard  struggle  to 
appear  always  brave  and  hopeful  and  calm  in 
the  presence  of  others  even  while  her  own 
heart  was  torn  with  unutterable  anguish,  yet 
she  rose  superior  not  only  to  her  own  sorrow  and 
suffering,  but  to  those  around  her;  and  the 
stress  of  circumstances,  and  the  sweet  influence 
of  her  strength  and  serenity — her  brave  endur- 
ance amidst  these  trials,  cheered  and  comforted 
the  stricken  ones  as  nothing  else  did,  or  ever 
could  have  done.  With  a  love  that  was  beauti- 
ful, heroic  and  sublime,  she  gave  her  whole  time 
and  strength  in  a  thousand  little  loving  ways  to 
lighten  the  burden  of  care  and  sadness  of  those 
passing  through  this  painful  conflict,  otherwise 
its  very  intensity  would  have  made  it  seem  to 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  261 

them  a  ceaseless  eternity  of  torture  almost  un- 
bearable. 

Added  to  the  sweet  consciousness  of  doing 
her  duty  in  sympathizing  with  and  helping  others 
to  bear  their  pain,  came  the  precious  and  oft 
repeated  approbations  of  her  guardian,  which 
ev^er  rang  in  her  ear.  "  Clod  bless  you,  Ruth,  my 
angel  of  mercy — my  sweet  spirit  of  light.  This 
is  your  mission,  darling,  to  heal  the  wounded 
and  broken-hearted — to  teach  others  what  the 
love  of  Christ  is  like. 

One  morning  as  Ruth  came  down-stairs  rather 
earlier  than  usual  she  met  her  guardian  in  the 
hall  with  his  hat  and  overcoat  on,  ready  to  go 
out.  His  face  was  white  and  sternly  set,  and 
traces  of  deep  and  strong  emotion  were  on  it, 
but  when  he  spoke  his  voice  had  the  same  gentle 
ring  to  it,  yet  she  thought  there  was  a  deeper 
melancholy,  too,  than  she  had  ever  heard  before. 
Even  after  he  had  closed  the  door  and  passed  out 
into  the  bright  morning  light,  she  recalled  his 
look  and  tone,  and  somehow  a  keen  pain  seemed 
to  strike  her  from  her  very  heart's  depths. 

Mrs.  Grayson's  friends  called  often  to  make 
inquiries,  to  offer  sympathy,  and  share  the  re- 
sponsibility of  serving  if  need  be,  but  everything 
that  skillful  physicians  and  a  thoroughly  trained 
and  disciplined  nurse  could  do  was  being  done  to 
the  utmost  for  her,  so  there  was  nothing  more 
that  could  be  done  to  soothe  and  soften  her  suf- 
fering. 

When  at  length  the  crisis  came  a,nd  the  doc- 
tors bid  the  family  hope,  the  relief  from  dread 
and  suspense  was  indeed  great.  Heavy  hearts 
gre^^  light,  and  grave  faces  bright  once  more — 
and  in  spite  of  all  caution  Nellie  would  burst 
into  song  from  time  to  time. 


262  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

A  few  days  after  the  doctor  had  pronounced 
Mrs.  Grayson  out  of  danger,  Ruth  went  into  the 
hbrary  one  morning  where  her  guardian  sat 
writing  some  letters — letters  which  had  been 
waiting  for  answers  during  Mrs.  Grayson's  long- 
illness.  As  the  portiere  was  drawn  aside,  she 
entered  without  knocking.  With  a  beaming 
face  she  crossed  the  room  and  stood  beside  him, 
her  heart  beating  quickly,  and  for  a  minute  he 
wrote  on,  heedless  of  her  presence.  She  waited 
without  speaking.  Presently  he  laid  down  his 
pen  and  swung  round  in  his  chair.  The  happiest 
smile  broke  over  his  handsome  face  when  he  saw 
who  it  was,  and  he  rose  at  once  and  placed  a 
chair  for  her  to  sit  down.  He  still  held  his  hand 
on  the  back  of  the  chair,  motioning  to  her  to  be 
seated,  while  he  kept  his  eyes  fixed  upon  her 
mar.vellously  beautiful  face,  every  lineament  lit 
with  the  reflex  happiness  of  her  soul.  Ah, 
when  the  heart  is  full  of  love  and  gladness— 
when  the  future  looks  bright  to  us — how  brightly 
glows  all  the  world  about  us,  how  beautiful  and 
radiant  is  life. 

' '  No,  thank  you.  I  should  not  dare  to  now 
unless  you  will  allow  me  to  help  you,"  she 
laughed,  glancing  at  his  unfinished  letter;  "  for 
I  see  I  have  interrupted  your  correspondence. ' ' 

"  But  sit  down,  please,  Ruth,  a  few  minutes; 
I  have  something  I  wish  to  tell  you — something 
I  have  kept  from  you,  little  brave  heart,  because 
I  thought  it  was  best  not  to  tell  you  while  Mrs. 
Grayson  was  so  ill. ' ' 

Suddenly  Ruth  started  and  a  shiver  crept  over 
her,  while  her  face  paled  perceptibly,  as  though 
his  words  foreshaowed  some  new  trouble,  some 
fresh  sorrow.  She  took  the  vacant  seat  he  rolled 
toward  her. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  263 

"  I'm  SO  sorry  to  have  alarmed  you,  my  dear," 
he  said  hastily,  with  great  solicitude,  ' '  I  cer- 
tainly did  not  mean  to.  I  should  have  remem- 
bered that  the  strain  on  your  physical  powers 
the  past  few  weeks  has  been  severely  trying, 
and  so  shown  more  discretion.  What  I  have  to 
tell  you,  however,  is  something  I'm  sure  will 
give  you  pleasure—  "'  he  hesitated. 

"  Please  go  on.  Don't  be  afraid  to  tell  me. 
I'm  sure  I  can  bear  to  hear  a  great  deal  of  good 
news.     Is  it  anything  connected  with  Agnes  ?  " 

"Yes,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glenwood  and  Carl  ?" 

She  looked  at  him  eagerly.  "  Do  you  know  I 
have  wondered  more  than  once  what  has  kept 
them.  Should  they  not  have  been  here  some- 
time ago  V  ' ' 

"■Yes,  two  weeks  ago."  As  he  spoke  he 
turned  to  the  desk  and  picked  up  a  yellowy  en- 
velope containing  a  telegram  and  handed  it  to 
her.  ' '  Read  that, ' '  he  said  quietly,  ' '  and  I  will 
tell  you  afterwards  why  they  have  been  de- 
tained. ' ' 

She  obeyed  a  little  nervously.  AVhile  she  read 
the  brief  message  Dr.  Leslie  watched  the  bright 
color  rise  and  glow  in  her  cheeks.  Suddenly  her 
hands  dropped  in  her  lap. 

"  And  to  think  they  will  be  here  to-morrow!" 
she  exclaimed  joyfully,  looking  at  him  with  sur- 
prise. "Oh,  I  am  so  glad!  Really  the  news 
seems  too  good  to  be  true,  and  I  cannot  realize 
it.  Have  you  told  Mrs.  Grayson — and  Nellie  ? 
How  glad  they  will  be  to  know. ' ' 

''  No,  I  only  received  the  telegram  a  few  min- 
utes before  you  came  in.  I  shall  have  to  prepare 
Mrs.  Grayson  for  the  good  news  without  unduly 
exciting  her.     That  would  never  do ;  but  I  said 


2H4  UNDER    GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

I  would  tel]  you  why  Carl  and  the  Glen  woods 
were  delayed  in  reaching  here  sooner.  I  shall 
not  detain  you  long.  While  Mrs.  Grayson  was 
so  very  low,  and  we  though  there  was  but  little 
hope,  a  letter  came  to  me  one  day  from  my 
friend  Woodson,  in  New  York,  stating  that  the 
steamer  on  which  Carl  and  the  Glenwoods  had 
sailed  from  Liverpool  for  New  York  had  been 
wrecked  in  a  terrible  storm  when  three  days  out 
at  sea.  and  all  on  board  except  the  captain  and 
three  of  the  crew  had  perished.  Woodson  had 
waited,  he  said,  several  days  before  writing  me 
to  ascertain  beyond  a  doubt  if  the  horrible  news 
were  true — waited  to  gather  all  the  details  of 
the  disaster  as  far  as  it  were  possible  to  secure 
them,  and  then  a  day  or  two  later  he  forwarded 
me  some  New  York  papers  with  a  confirmation 
of  th.e  reports  he  had  written  me.  Ruth,  I  could 
not  tell  you  or  any  one,  and  no  one  living  knows 
or  can  ever  know  the  wretchedness  and  anguish 
of  soul  which  I  suffered  after  the  first  shock  of 
this  news  came,  which  made  my  heart  sicken 
and  my  senses  reel ;  and  all  that  I  suffered  in  the 
miserable  days  that  followed.  I  did  not  make 
you  the  recipient  of  my  confidence  because  I 
knew,  under  the  circumstances,  you  could  not 
have  borne  up  against  it.  I  felt  that  had  the 
agony  crowded  in  those  few  days  lasted  much 
longer,  I  should  have  gone  down  myself  under 
it,  though  one  can  endure  many  a  cruel  blow  and 
live  and  be  sane.  Fortunately,  our  city  pa- 
pers contained  only  a  brief  telegraphic  report  of 
the  vessel  and  did  not  mention  the  names  of 
any  of  the  passengers  on  board.  On  the  after- 
noon of  the  day  when  I  received  Woodson's  first 
letter  telling  me  of  the  wrecked  vessel,  I  went  in 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  265 

to  see  Helen,  and  while  sitting  by  her  bedside  she 
turned  to  me  and  suddenly  and  deliberately 
asked,  '  Where  is  Carl '? '  Of  course  she  asked 
the  question  in  the  fever  of  delirium  and  knew 
not  what  she  was  saying,  but  for  the  moment 
I  was  so  completely  thrown  off  my  guard  be- 
cause of  the  strangeness  of  the  question,  that  I 
felt  a  sick  and  deathly  faiutness  come  over  me, 
and  it  was  with  a  desperate  effort  I  could  recover 
my  self-control.  I  think  my  look  and  manner 
must  have  terrified  Miss  Dupont.  her  nurse, 
but  her  admirable  training  bore  her  bravely  up. 
I  think  she  must  have  half  suspected  the  truth, 
too,  that  some  trouble  had  befallen  Carl.  A 
few  days  later  there  came  another  letter  from 
Woodson,  and  if  joy  could  kill  I  think  I  should 
have  been  its  victim  after  I  read  it.  Carl  and 
the  Glenwoods  had  engaged  passage  on  the 
fated  steamer  and  had  made  every  preparation 
to  come  over  in  it,  but  the  day  on  which  they 
were  to  sail,  some  unfortunate  accident  had 
occurred  which  had  detained  them  beyond  the 
time  set  for  the  vessel's  leaving,  and  so  they 
vT-ere  forced  to  postpone  their  return  and  come 
by  the  next  steamer.  Possibly  you  can  faintly 
imagine  how  I  felt.  Even  though  Mrs.  Grayson 
lay  at  death's  door — even  though  the  hope  of 
her  recovery  had  grown  so  dim,  yet  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  safety  of  those  dear  ones  whom  I 
believed  had  met  such  a  terrible  fate,  thrilled 
me  with  a  joy  so  strauge,  so  profound,  that  I 
am  sure  I  shall  not  forget  it  to  my  dying  day." 


18 


266  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

The  next  morning  Ruth  woke  with  a  start. 
The  merry  sound  of  Nellie's  voice  as  she  romped 
with  Bruce  on  the  back  veranda  had  roused  her. 
She  lay  still  a  few  moments  trying  to  collect  her 
dreamy,  wandering  thoughts  and  gain  full  con- 
sciousness. That  something  unxepected,  if  not 
unusual,  had  occurred  she  was  quite  certain. 

She  slipped  out  of  bed  and  was  soon  in  her 
dressing  gown  and  slippers;  then  she  went  to 
the  window  and  drew  up  the  blinds. 

The  scene  which  met  her  view  astonished  her. 
The  ground,  the  tops  of  houses,  the  leafless 
branches  of  the  trees,  everything  without  was 
covered  with  a  glittering  coating  of  snow,  and 
the  great  white  flakes  were  still  falling  and 
seemed  to  increase  in  size  and  rapidity  until  they 
had  the  appearance  of  a  dense  white  cloud.  The 
streets  were  almost  deserted,  and  the  few  per- 
sons who  were  seen  upon  them  hurried  to  and 
fro  as  if  eager  to  be  beyond  the  severity  of  the 
cold. 

As  she  stood  there  looking  out,  there  came  a 
low  knock  at  her  dooi",  and  on  opening  it  she 
found  Julia. 

"  Miss  Ruth,  Dr.  Leslie  told  me  to  give  you 
this  telegram  to  read. ' '  The  telegram  was  from 
Carl  to  his  uncle,  dated  from  Washington,  and 
stated  that  he  and  the  G-lenwoods  were  en  route 
for  home  and  would  be  in  on  the  11.30  train  that 
day. 

Two  hours  later,  while  Ruth  was  in  Mrs.  Gray- 
son's room,  a  light  quick  step  came  bounding 
down  the  hall,  and  the  next  moment  the  door 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  267 

opened   suddenly  and    Nellie's   curly  head   was 
thrust  in. 

'"  Oh,  they're  coming — Carl's  coming — I  saw 
the  carriage.  Do  corae,  Cousin  Ruth,  and  let 
us  go  out  on  the  veranda  to  meet  them.  Come 
now.  Cousin  Ruth,"  she  urged,  and  without 
waiting  for  her  Nellie  ran  out  of  the  room  clap- 
ping her  hands  in  a  perfect  glee. 

Throwing  a  heavy  shawl  around  her  shoulders, 
Ruth  went  out  on  the  veranda,  where  Miss 
Rachel,  Nellie  and  Julia  had  preceded  her,  and 
stood  shivering  with  excitement  as  vvell  as  cold, 
whilst  the  carriage  drew  up  and  stopped,  and 
Virgil  descended  quickly  and  opened  the  door. 
There  was  only  one  vehicle,  and  Ruth  was  just 
wondering  how  so  many  people  had  managed  to 
be  stowed  away  in  that,  when  Dr.  Leslie 
alighted,  then  Mr.  Glenwood,  Mrs.  Glenwood 
next,  and  finally  Mrs.  Glenwood 's  French  maid, 
whom  Nellie  took  for  Agnes.  In  the  midst  of 
the  joyous  hubbub  of  welcome  and  greetings 
going  on  around  her,  Nellie  was  almost  ready  to 
burst  out  crying  from  disappointment  as  soon  as 
she  saw  that  Carl  was  not  among  the  arrivals, 
and  the  others  had  no  manner  of  interest  for  her 
at  that  moment — not  until  her  uncle  explained 
that  Carl  and  Agnes  were  on  the  way  and  would 
arrive  in  a  few  minutes.  He  said  that  Carl  had 
met  an  old  friend  at  the  station,  who  kindly 
offered  him  the  use  of  his  sleigh  and  horses,  and 
notwithstanding  the  bitter  cold  Agnes  declared 
that  this  was  a  temptation  which  she  could  not 
resist,  to  say  nothing  of  the  novelty  of  enjoying 
a  sleigh-ride  in  the  Sunny  South — "  And  they 
are  coming  with  all  possible  speed  that  the  horses 
can  bring  them,"  he  said,  turning  to  Nellie  with 
a  laugh,  and  her  face  brightened  immediately. 


2«8  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Well,  this  seems  like  rather  cold  hospital- 
ity, ' '  he  continued  to  his  guests,  ' '  standing  here 
in  the  snow.  Suppose  we  go  indoors  and  find 
more  warmth  and  comfort.  Eachel,  if  vou  will 
show  George  and  Cousin  Ella  to  their  rooms, 
and  they'll  excuse  me,  I  will  have  iheir  trunks 
and  hoxes  sent  up  at  once.  I  see  the  dray  has 
arrived  with  them."  Then  he  turned  back 
while  Miss  Eachel,  with  more  than  her  ordinary 
cordial  manner  of  a  welcoming  hostess,  carried 
them  away  to  their  rooms — Adele,  Mrs.  Glen- 
wood's  maid,  following  with  her  mistress'  trav- 
eling bag  and  extra  wraps. 

The  beautiful  and  elegant  rooms  which  had 
been  set  apart  for  them  opened  out  into  each 
other  and  were  on  the  second  floor.  ' '  Much 
more  comfortable  and  elegant  than  I  had  im- 
agined,''  was  Mrs.  Glen  wood's  mental  criticism 
as  they  passed  through  the  spacious  hall  and  up 
the  wide  stairs,  where  her  foot  sank  into  the 
soft  carpot,  and  then  into  the  handsome  apart- 
ments which  bore  the  unmistakable  impress  of 
quiet  elegance  and  refinement  in  all  their  rich 
appointments.  These  things — comfort  and  ele- 
gance— Mrs.  Glenwood  regarded  as  absolute 
requirements  necessary  to  one's  peace  of  mind 
and  happiness — at  least  they  were  to  her. 

' '  Now  I  shall  leave  you, ' '  Miss  Rachel  said, 
in  her  direct,  brusque  way  as  soon  as  she  had 
ushered  her  guests  into  their  rooms.  "  We  dine 
at  2  o'clock,  but  I  shall  send  you  up  some  tea 
right  away,  and  should  you  need  anything 
meanwhile,  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  let  me 
know. ' ' 

' '  Thank  you.  Cousin  Rachel, ' '  assented  Mrs. 
Glenwood,  as  she  sank  on  a  low  lounge,  resting 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  261> 

herself  luxuriously  among  the  silken  cushions, 
and  allowing  Adele  to  remove  her  heavy  fur 
wraps.  "  This  is  delightful,  I  assure  you,  after 
the  heat  of  the  cars,  then  the  sudden  change  to 
a  cold  draught.  We  certainly  owe  you  a  thous- 
and thanks  for  making  everything  so  j)leasaut 
and  comfortable  for  us. '  * 

' '  Oh,  not  at  all, ' '  said  Miss  Rachel  candidly ; 
I  am  glad  it  suits  you.''  Then  she  closed  the 
door  and  went  down-stairs,  wondering  a  little  if 
Mrs.  Glen  wood  were  so  pleased  as  she  had  said. 
Ruth  had  told  her  of  Mrs.  Glenwood's  palatial 
home  in  San  Francisco,  one  among  the  most  ele- 
gant and  superb  in  that  city  of  magnificent  pri- 
vate homes,  and  that  she  lived  and  entertained 
in  almost  regal  splendor;  and  while  her  brother's 
home  was  beautiful  and  elegant,  and  one  among 
the  most  sumptuous  in  his  own  city,  ' '  but  of 
course  was  not  to  be  compared  to  their  cousin's 
in  the  far  West,"  Miss  Rachel  said  conclusively 
to  herself. 

Ruth  and  Nellie  had  ventured  back  to  the 
veranda  with  Dr.  Leslie,  for  they  had  heard  the 
merry  sound  of  sleigh  bells,  and  the  next  mo- 
ment they  saw  the  light  vehicle  drawn  by  a  pair 
of  superb  bays  with  two  persons  sitting  in  the 
front  snugly  ensconced  and  almost  invisible  in 
fur  robes,  come  dashing  up  the  driveway,  if  not 
according  to  the  driver's  idea  of  safety — who 
was  sitting  on  the  seat  behind — apparently  to 
the  entn-e  satisfaction  of  the  two  occupants  of 
the  front  seat.  Carl  threw  the  reins  to  the  groom 
and  sprang  out,  and  then  assisted  a  slight,  grace- 
ful girl  to  the  flag-stone.  Dr.  Leslie  received 
Carl  with  open  arms,  while  Nellie,  between  tears 
and  laughter,  threw  her  arras  around  his  neck 


270       •  UNDER   C40LDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

and  clung  to  him  as  if  she  never  meant  to  let 
him  go. 

''  Well,  Uncle  Ralph,  ifs  worth  going  away  if 
for  no  other  reason  than  the  pleasure  of  return- 
ing to  recieve  such  a  welcome  as  this, ' '  Carl  said 
as  soon  as  he  could  free  himself  from  Nellie's 
warm  embrace,  and  find  his  voice.  '"  It's  some- 
thing like  the   prodigal's  return,  sure  enough." 

"Now  see  here,  Cousin  Ralph,  I  don't  propose 
to  be  ignored  any  longer,"  said  Agnes,  pouting 
deliciously,  and  coming  forward  with  her  accus- 
tomed grace  of  manner.  ''  I  don't  believe  in  ex- 
tending all  the  welcome  to  the  prodigal."  She 
held  out  her  little  hand  with  a  smile  to  her 
Cousin  Ralph,  and  with  all  the  warmth  of  a 
brother  he  bent  and  kissed  her,  while  tears  of 
genuine  joy  stood  in  his  kind  eyes.  "  This  is 
indeed  a  great  pleasure,  Agnes,  and  I  cordially 
welcome  you  and  Carl  both  home." 

"•  A  thousand  thanks.  Cousin  Ralph.  So  good 
of  you — ''  but  she  got  no  further — an  exclama- 
tion of  surprise  escaped  her,  for  just  then  Ruth 
stepped  from  behind  one  of  the  pillars  which 
had  partially  concealed  her,  and  then  came  to- 
ward them  with  that  lovely  movement  of  wel- 
come which  was  so  fascinating  in  her.  "  Well, 
here  you  are  at  last,"  cried  Agnes,  her  face 
glowing  with  happiness  as  she  caught  Ruth  in 
her  arms  and  kissed  her  repeatedly ;  then  throw- 
ing back  her  head  and  holding  her  a  little  way 
off,  she  went  on  in  a  rapture  of  admiration :  ' '  I 
do  believe  you  are  lovelier  than  ever,  darling; 
oh,  you  radiant  creature !  How  I  have  so  longed 
to  see  you.  Can  it  be  true  that  I  am  acturally 
with  you,  or  am  I  dreaming  ?  But  pardon  me, 
and  allow  me  to  introduce  you  to  my  cousin  and 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.       ^''  271 

your  foster  brother,  Carl  Grayson— Mr.  Gray- 
son, I  suppose  I  should  say.  I  am  sure  you 
must  feel  as  if  you  tw^o  already  knew  one 
another — you  have  heard  of  each  other  so  often — 
I  generally  do  when  I  hear  people  talked  of  so 
much — I  mean  those  whom  I  have  never  seen.'' 

Carl's  eyes  had  been  fixed  steadily  on  Ruth's 
face  while  Agnes  held  her,  and  was  raving  ovei- 
her  in  such  a  burst  of  enthusiastic  admiration, 
and  when  she  turned  to  acknowledge  the  intro- 
duction, she  gracefully  held  out  her  hand  and 
ii'ave  him  the  loveliest  smile  of  welcome.  Carl's 
gay  handsome  face  kindled  into  smiles  and  he 
felt  drawn  to  her  at  once,  and  Ruth  in  turn  was 
quite  won  by  his  gentle,  chivalrous  bearing,  and 
she  found  he  was  pretty  much  the  knightly  per- 
son her  fancy  had  depicted.  If  anything,  he 
was  even  handsomer  than  the  portrait  of  him- 
self which  hung  in  his  mother's  room,  and  his 
uncle  had  remarked  on  meeting  him  that  he  had 
grown  stouter  and  more  manly. 

"  Mother  has  written  me  so  often  about  you, 
Miss  Arnold,  that  now  I've  met  you  it  seems 
quite  as  if  I  have  been  knowing  you  always," 
he  was  saying  to  her  as  he  walked  beside  her, 
with  Nellie  clinging  to  his  hand,  while  Dr.  Leslie 
and  Agnes  led  the  way  in;  and  very  soon  he  and 
Ruth  were  talking  to  one  another  as  frankly  as 
though  they  had  known  one  another  for  years. 

"  And  so  this  is  the  Sunny  South,  Cousin 
Ralph,  of  which  Ruth  has  been  writing  me  such 
glowing  accounts,"  said  Agnes,  glancing  over 
her  shoulder  at  Ruth  with  a  quick  flash  of  her 
mischievous  eyes.  "  But  I  dare  say  this  partic- 
ular snow  storm  was  imported  from  the  North 
Arctic,  or  some  unexplored  region,  in  honor  of 
our  visit,  eh.  Carl '? ' ' 


272  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

' '  It  seems  more  likely  that  we  brought  it  with 
us  from  the  North,"  he  laughed,  "for  it  was 
snowing  like  fury  when  we  left  New  York  yes- 
terday." 

"  Oh,  you  are  judging  our  Southland  too 
hastily, "  interposed  Ruth,  "and  I'm  sure  you 
will  change  your  opinion  before  a  great  while. ' ' 

"  Yes,  for  you  may  probably  find  next  week 
as  warm,  bright  and  smiling  as  if  there  never 
had  been  any  such  things  as  snowstorms  or  even 
cold  weather,"  said  Carl  warmly. 

"  Oh,  I  like  this  weather — don't  apologize  for 
it,  I  pray  you.  It  is  perfectly  delicious  to  me," 
laughed  Agnes.  "■  It  is  a  wonder  you  don't  tell 
me,  Carl,  that  the  very  next  sunshine  will  tempt 
the  crocuses  and  dandelions  out  of  their  winter 
sleep  till  all  the  lawns  are  looking  as  beautiful 
and  springlike  as  country  fields." 

' '  In  spite  of  your  incredulity,  I  do  make  the 
statement  now,  and  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if 
you  see  it  verified  in  less  than  a  week. ' ' 

They  had  entered  the  hall,  and  as  Carl  took 
off  his  overcoat  and  hat  and  hung  them  on  the 
rack  he  said,  "Well,  Uncle  Ralph,  this  does  seem 
homelike,  and  it  is  delightful  to  be  with  you  all 
once  again." 

' '  And  it  is  equally  pleasant  to  have  you  home 
again,  my  boy,"  his  uncle  said  heartily,  respond- 
ing to  his  compliment. 

' '  Dr.  Leslie,  if  you  think  Agnes  can  be  spared, 
I  will  take  her  to  her  room,  and  when  she  is 
rested  we  will  come  down  to  the  sitting-room," 
said  Ruth,  laying  her  hands  on  Agnes'  arm. 
Juha  had  already  preceded  them  with  Agnes' 
traveling  bag  and  wraps,  and  as  the  girls  ran 
hghtly  up  the  steps  together,  Agnes  began  again 
in  her  bright,  eager  way : 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  273 


u 


What  have  you  been  doing  with  yourself  all 
this  long  time,  darling  ?  I  have  so  much  to  tell 
you  I  hardly  know  where  to  begin,  and  I  know 
I  shall  never  end.  It  has  been  such  a  ceaseless 
whirl  of  parties  and  receptions  and  amusements 
of  every  kind  since  we  parted,  that  I  am  heartily 
sick  of  it  all.  I  positively  envy  you  your  restful 
time  here. ' ' 

Ruth  smiled  and  pressed  her  hand,  and  a^ 
they  had  reached  her  room  she  opened  the  door 
and  led  Agnes  in.  and  for  the  next  two  hours 
the  girls  were  left  uninterruptedly  alone  to  re- 
new their  sweet  girl  friendship — a  friendship 
easily  made  and  oftentimes  too  easily  broken. 

Nellie  had  followed  them  a  few  steps,  but  see- 
ing that  they  were  so  much  engrossed  in  their 
own  talk  and  paid  so  little  heed  to  her,  she 
turned  back  and  joined  her  uncle  and  Carl  in  the 
hall. 

"When  may  I  see  mother,  Uncle  Ralph?'' 
Carl  asked  eagerly,  as  soon  as  the  two  girls  had 
left  them;  "I  am  sure  she  is  waiting  for  me, 
and  I  am  so  anxious  to  go  to  her. ' '  Even  as  he 
spoke  he  glanced  anxiously  in  the  direction  of  his 
mother's  room. 

"You  dear  boy."  said  Dr.  Leslie  warmly. 
' '  I  am  glad  to  know  that  with  all  you  have  seen 
and  learned  during  your  eighteen  months'  so- 
journ abroad,  you  have  not  forgo^,ten  your 
mother — that  you  think  as  much  of  her  as  ever. 
While  your  absence  has  been  a  sore  trial  to  her, 
yet  she  has  borne  up  bravely,  and  I  am  sure  can 
never  regret  the  sacrifice  which  she  has  made, 
when  she  sees  how  manly  and  improved  you 
are  " — a  look  of  pride  and  happiness  came  into 
his  uncle's  face.     "  AVell,  here  we  are  at  your 


274-  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

mother's  door,  and  here  I  will  leave  you. 
Come,  Nellie,  we'll  go  to  the  sitting-room  and 
have  a  quiet  time  to  ourselves  until  the  others 
come  to  join  us." 

Nelhe  still  held  her  brother  by  the  hand. 
"  But  I  must  kiss  Carl,  first,"  she  said  resolutely. 
' '  You  know  I  love  you,  Carl,  with  my  whole 
heart,  and  oh,  I  am  so  glad  you've  come  home 
again. ' ' 

' '  You  are  a  dear  little  sister,  Nellie, ' '  he  said, 
' '  and  certainly  this  is  one  of  the  brightest  and 
happiest  days  of  my  life."  Then  he  stooped  and 
kissed  the  little  beaming  face  upturned  to  his 
with  such  a  sweet  glad  smile. 

"  Good-bye,  till  I  see  you  in  the  sitting- 
room,"  he  continued  in  a  broken  voice  and 
tears  of  joy  in  his  eyes,  and  Nellie  waved  a  kiss 
to  him  as  she  skipped  down  the  hall  beside  her 
uncle.  Carl  knocked  gently  on  his  mother's 
door,  and  hardly  waiting  for  "the  familiar  ' '  come 
in ' '  which  he  remembered  still,  he  entered  and 
closed  the  door  behind  him. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  275 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

"  And  were  there  no  other  children  ?  I  mean 
hving  ones?''  The  question  was  asked  with 
eager,  almost  breathless  interest. 

"Oh,  yes,  a  little  girl  by  his  first  marriage; 
but  as  the  mother  died  a  day  or  two  after  her 
birth,  and  there  was  no  one  to  take  charge  of  her, 
a  wealthy  relative  in  New  York  agreed  to  take 
the  infant — though  she  was  very  delicate — rear 
and  educate  her  as  his  own  daughter  and  finally 
adopt  her,  provided  her  father  would  renounce 
all  claims  to  her  in  the  future." 

"  And  did  he  accede  to  such  an  arrangement  ?" 
The  question  w^as  asked  in  a  tone  of  surprised 
amazement. 

' '  Yes,  and  I  suppose  wath  an  easy  conscience, 
feeling  that  it  would  be  for  the  best;  but  it 
seems  that  as  soon  as  the  child  w^as  taken  to 
New  York  it  sickened  and  died — at  least  it  was 
so  reported — and — " 

Ruth  had  unavoidablv  heard  this  much  of 
what  she  inferred,  from  the  earnest  tone  and 
serious  manner  of  Mrs.  Glenwood  and  Miss 
Rachel — for  it  was  they  who  w^ere  the  speakers 
— to  be  a  private  conversation  not  intended  for 
her  ears,  so  she  came  out  at  once  from  behind 
the  deep  curtained  recess  in  the  sitting-room. 

It  was  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  the  visi- 
tors' arrival,  and,  notwithstanding  the  gray  snow 
clouds  and  the  bitter  cold  without,  there  was  a 
general  sense  of  brightness  and  cheerfulness 
throughout  the  whole  house  within. 

Carl  had  remained  with  his  mother  until  din- 
ner was  announced,  and  immediately  that  meai 


276  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

was  over  he  took  himself  off  to  see  Aunt  Milly, 
his  old  nurse,  greatly  rejoicing  her  heart,  while 
she  declared  over  and  over  to  him  that  she  never 
expected  to  set  eyes  on  him  again  in  this  world. 

It  was  not  very  long  before  Carl  came  in  and 
Agnes  made  room  for  him  on  the  divan  beside 
her,  and  when  Euth  appeared  Agnes  insisted 
that  she  too  should  occupy  the  seat  with  them. 
Rath  settled  the  question,  however,  by  drawing 
up  a  chair  within  conversational  distance,  and 
after  exchanging  a  few  merry  words  with  Agnes, 
rather  withflrew  herself  and  let  her  monopolize 
the  conversation. 

From  time  to  time  as  Ruth's  eyes  rested  upon 
Carl's  handsome,  laughing  face,  and  watched 
his  easy,  graceful  manners  and  pleasant  little 
ways  with  Agnes,  she  did  not  wonder  that  any 
one  could  help  liking  him.  There  was,  besides 
a  striking  resemblance  to  his  Cousin  Agnes  in 
features,  an  equally  marked  similarity  in  their 
natures — the  same  vivacity,  the  same  perfect 
freedom  from  all  affectation.  True,  he  had  all 
his  uncle's  chiselling  of  features,  with  some  of 
his  intellectual  breadth  of  brow  and  gentleness 
of  mouth ;  but  withal  he  looked  a  much  nearer 
kinsman  to  his  beautiful  cousin  with  her  grace- 
fully acquired  society  ways,  and  Old  World 
graces,  than  his  handsome  uncle  whom  Carl  still 
regarded  with  as  much  admiration  and  almost 
adoration  as  in  the  days  of  his  boyhood. 

Agnes  looked  up  at  him  with  a  radiant  glance 
as  he  took  the  proffered  seat  beside  her. 

"  I  was  just  thinking  about  you,  and  wonder- 
ing what  had  deprived  us  of  your  charming  so- 
ciety so  long.  Not  that  I  haven't  been  most 
delightfully  entertained. "  she  said  quickly,  "but 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  277 

I  am  going  to  ask  Ruth  to  favor  us  with  some 
music,  and  I  so  much  want  that  you  should  hear 
her  play  and  sing.  I  asked  Cousin  Helen  when 
I  was  in  to  see  her,  if  music  would  disturh  her, 
and  she  assured  me  to  the  contrary.  She  says 
that  it  always  has  the  most  soothing  and  calm- 
ing influence  upon  her  even  when  she  is  sick, 
and  she  would  be  glad  to  hear  Ruth's  sweet 
strains  echoing  through  the  old  house  again — or 
something  to  that  effect.  Now  you  see,  darling, 
you  are  expected  to  respond  promptly  and  grace- 
fully to  my  request,  as  well  as  Cousin  Helen's 
expressed  wish.  Carl,  I  depute  you  to  open  the 
piano  and  escort  this  fair  musician  to  her  seat." 

He  instantly  rose,  went  to  the  piano  and 
opened  it,  and  then  came  back  for  Ruth,  bowing 
low  before  her. 

"  Miss  Arnold,  it  will  give  me  great — " 

"  Miss  Arnold  indeed,"  Agnes  laughed  gayly, 
"when  are  you  two  going  to  get  acquainted  ? 
Do  be  sensible  and  call  one  another  by  your 
Christian  names." 

Ruth's  candid  eyes  met  Carl's  frankly.  His 
own,  with  something  in  their  inscrutable  expres- 
sion just  then  reminding  her  so  much  of  his 
uncle's,  beamed  with  good  humor,  and  involun- 
tarily they  both  laughed  as  their  eyes  met.  Still 
studying  her  face,  he  said : 

' '  Shall  we  do  as  Agnes  suggests  ?  - ' 

' '  I  suppose  I  may  allow  you  t  o  take  advan- 
tage of  our  relationship  and  call  me  Ruth, ' '  she 
said,  smiling  and  flushing. 

' '  Thank  you, ' '  he  said,  pretending  not  to  see 
her  suddenly  changed  color,  and  Ruth  and 
Agnes  both  rose  and  all  three  moved  to  the 
piano. 


278  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

The  hours  of  that  day  sped  rapidly  and  hap- 
pily by,  and  at  its  close,  when  the  household 
were  gathered  around  the  family  altar,  it  was 
with  a  heart  overflowing  with  gratitude  that 
Dr.  Leslie  had  offered  up  praise  and  thanksgiv- 
ing to  the  Almighty  for  the  safe  arrival  of  the 
travelers,  the  promised  recovery  of  his  sister, 
commended  them  all  to  the  Father's  favor,  and 
then  consecrated  himself  anew  to  His  service. 
His  earnest  and  simple  devotion  affected  more 
than  one  of  his  listeners  to  tears.  As  soon  as 
the  prayer  was  finisned,  Agnes  and  Ruth  bade 
the  family  good-night  and  retired  immediately 
to  their  room. 

"  Oh,  I  have  so  longed  for  this  hour  ever  since 
I  came,"  said  Agnes,  as  she  sank  down  on  a 
comfortable  couch  before  the  glowing  grate,  and 
taking  Ruth's  hand  gently  drew  her  down  beside 
her.  "  I  am  so  glad,  too,  to  have  you  all  to  my- 
self again,  darling,  for  I  have  a  thousand  things 
to  talk  to  you  about.  But  wait  a  moment." 
She  rose  suddenly  and  turned  down  the  light, 
and  the  rosy  glow  made  by  the  burning  coal  fire 
in  the  grate  made  a  light  most  suited  to  their 
feelings.  Then  she  came  back,  sat  down,  and 
fixing  her  eyes  steadily  on  Ruth's  expectant 
face,  said  very  deliberately : 

"•  Well,  in  the  first  place,  I'm  going  to  tell  you 
frankly  that  I  don't  intend  to  occupy  that  pretty 
room  next  door  which  is  done  up  in  such  ex- 
quisite luxury  and  taste,  and  which  has  been 
assigned  to  my  especial  use,  but  I'm  going  to 
share  your  room  with  you.  What  have  you  to 
say  for  or  against  it  ?  ' ' 

Rath  gave  her  a  sweet  reassuring  smile. 
"  Why  certainly.     I  shall  be  too  glad  to  have 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  27^ 

you  with  me,  and  even  after  I  go  back  to  the 
Academy,  I  want  you  still  to  occupy  my  room. 
Before  you  came,  I  thought  probably  you  might 
wish  a  room  all  to  yourself,  and  in  the  event 
you  didn't,  I  knew  it  would  be  very  easy  to  make 
a  change.  Yes,  I  assure  you  that  I'm  really 
very  glad  you  do  not  like  the  other  arrangement, 
and  so  will  stay  with  me.'' 

Ruth  was  standing  dressed  by  her  bedside  when 
Agnes  awoke  next  morning.  Agnes  rubbed  her 
eyes  and  stared  curiously  at  her  for  a  moment, 
half  unconscious,  half  asleep. 

"  Who  is  that  ?     Where  am  I '?  "  she  asked. 

Ruth  laughed.  "  Get  up  and  come  to  the  win- 
dow^ and  see  what  lovely  sights  you  are  missing. 
Nature  has  transformed  the  world  into  a  veri- 
table Crystal  Palace  since  we  closed  our  eyes  upon 
it  last  night,  and  I  was  so  afraid  the  sun  would 
play  havoc  with  it  before  you  saw  it." 

' '  Oh,  you  darling. ' '  said  Agnes,  throwing  her 
arms  around  her  neck.  "  Nothing  in  this  world 
is  half  so  lovely  as  you  are.  But  let  me  see  this 
beautiful  world  of  transient  wonders."  Ruth 
handed  her  her  dressing  gown  and  slippers,  and 
hastily  slipping  them  on,  the  girls  were  soon 
standing  arm  in  arm  beside  the  window. 

"  Oh,  darling,  it  is  lovely — beautiful — grand," 
said  Agnes  enthusiastically.  "  I  can't  find  the 
words  I  want  to  express  myself." 

The  scene  which  nearly  deprived  them  of  the 
powei-  of  vision  was  indescribably  brilliant  and 
beautiful.  During  the  night  a  cold  fine  rain  had 
fallen  and  immediately  frozen  into  ice  of  the 
purest  crystal.  Everything  was  sheathed  in  a 
heavy  coating  of  this  transparent  incrustation, 
and  under  the  dazzling  rays  of  the  morning  sun 


280  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

radiated  and  glistened  like  burnished  silver.  The 
limbs  of  the  largest  trees  were  bent  almost  to 
the  ground  under  their  heavy  burden,  forming 
graceful  arches,  and  glistened  as  if  wreathed 
in  diamond  sprays.  Nothing  could  equal  the 
glory  and  splendor  of  the  landscape.  Myriads  of 
icicles  hung  from  the  eaves  of  the  house  and 
pendant  boughs,  amongst  which  the  sunbeams 
danced  with  an  irridescent  light,  changing  them 
into  an  infinite  variety  of  beauty  and  splendor. 

''  Well,  it  is  a  pretty  picture,"  Agnes  said, 
turning  away  from  the  window  at  last.  "  But 
then  one  can't  even  look  at  a  beautiful  thing 
forever.  The  bright  light  has  made  me  as  blind 
as  the  proverbial  bat. ' '  She  clapped  her  hands 
over  her  eyes,  until  the  momentary  blindness 
had  passed,  and  then  she  began  to  arrange  her 
wealth  of  shimmering  hair.  When  she  and 
Ruth  descended  to  the  breakfast-room,  a  little 
later,  the  church  bells  were  ringing  out  their 
pleasant  call  over  the  dazzling  morning  scene. 
They  hurried  through  the  meal  so  as  to  be  ready 
in  time  for  the  opening  service,  and  on  their 
way  out  to  the  carriage  found  Carl  leaning 
against  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  veranda  quietly 
smoking,  and  as  oblivous  of  the  cold  as  if  it  were 
the  mildest  day  in  May.  Agnes  walked  up  to 
him,  dimpling  with  smiles,  and  slipped  one  of 
her  hands  through  his  arm,  holding  her  prayer 
book  in  the  other. 

' '  Oh,  for  shame,  Carl  Grayson !  Where  have 
you  been  all  the  morning  ?  Is  this  the  conduct 
of  a  host — the  manner  in  which  he  should  dis- 
pense good-will  and  hospitality  to  his  guests  ?  I 
had  hoped  to  find  a  different  reception  from  you. 
Aren't  you  going  with  us  to  church  this  morn- 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  281 

ing  ?  My  conscience  will  mercilessly  lash  me  if 
I  betake  myself  off  to  worship  and  leave  you 
here  to  your  own  wayward  devices. ' ' 

Before  he  answered  her  he  tossed  his  cigar 
away  and  raised  his  hat  to  Ruth.  Mrs.  Glen- 
wood  he  had  met  at  breakfast. 

"  Not  if  you  will  excuse  me,  pretty  cousin. 
I'll  see  you  safely  off  on  your  perilous  journey 
and  then  I'm  going  to  spend  the  hour  of  your 
absence  with  mother.  You  can  do  penance  for 
both  of  us.  Allow  me  to  take  you  and  Euth  to 
the  carriage ;  I  see  Uncle  Ralph  and  Cousin  Ella 
are  waiting,  and  there  goes  your  last  church 
bell.  Look  out !  be  careful.  A  thin  coating  of 
ice  has  formed  over  the  floor  since  it  was  cleared 
off  this  morning,  and  you  might  go  down  un- 
awares." He  gave  a  swift  glance  at  her  and 
went  on:  ''  You  look  splendidly,  little  coz — quite 
as  well  as  I  e^'er  saw  you." 

'  •  Do  you  think  so '?  Thanks.  I  love  frank- 
ness above  all  things, ' '  she  laughed,  ' '  and  I  cer- 
tainly don't  think  any  one  will  ever  have  cause 
to  reproach  you  for  a  lack  of  that  virtue. ' ' 

' '  Yes,  I  am  frank — or  matter-of-fact — which  V 
But  unfortunately  the  fin  de  siecle  public  don't, 
as  a  rule,  appreciate  the  most  matter-of-fact  peo- 
ple, it  matters  not  how  much  solid  excellence 
they  possess.  I  am  glad,  however,  that  you 
do.'' 

"  Well,  I've  nothing  more  to  say,"  she  laugh- 
ed, as  he  handed  her  and  Ruth  to  their  seats, 
and  then  Virgil  closed  the  door. 

"  A  safe  and  pleasant  journey."     Carl  smiled 

and  raised  his  hat,  and  after  the  carriage  drove 

off  stood  listening  for  a  moment  to  the  grating 

sound  which  the  wheels  made  on  the  crisp,  hard 

19 


282  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

snow  as  it  yielded  to  the  pressure  of  the  vehicle, 
and  listening  to  tinkling  sleigh-bells  sounding 
far  into  the  distance,  he  whistled  softly  to 
himself,  turned  and  went  into  the  house  and 
directly  to  his  mother's  room. 

The  following  Tuesday  Ruth  returned  to  the 
Academy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glenwood  were  to  spend  only  a 
month  with  their  relatives  and  then  return  to 
their  home  in  California,  but  Dr.  Leslie  and 
Mrs.  Grayson  had  prevailed  upon  them  to  let 
Agnes  remain  on  a  visit  to  them,  and  the  invita- 
tion so  cordially  extended  had  been  accepted  for 
a  perfectly  indefinite  time. 

Ruth  had  promised  Agnes  when  she  left  to 
return  and  spend  the  Easter  holidays  with  her, 
at  the  same  time  assuring  her  that  it  would  be 
the  last  holiday  she  intended  to  take  until  she 
was  graduated  in  May. 

Now  that  Carl  had  returned  home,  Mrs.  Gray- 
son daily  grew  stronger  and  better,  and  began 
to  recover  rapidly.  Dr.  Leslie  laughingly  told 
her  that  Carl's  presence  was  better  medicine  for 
her  than  all  the  doctor's  physic,  good  nursing 
and  the  tender  and  loving  sympathy  of  her 
friends  combined. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  283 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  you've  come — so  glad  to 
have  you  back  again,  darling, ' '  cried  Agnes,  in 
a  gay  voice  of  w^elcome,  laughing  and  running 
down  the  steps  to  meet  Ruth  as  she  came  up 
the  walk,  and  so  silently  that  she  was  quite  to 
the  house  before  Agnes  saw  her.  Then  throw- 
ing back  Ruth's  Oxford  gown,  she  slipped  her 
arm  in  hers,  and  they  sauntered  along  to  the 
house.  Agnes  rambling  on  in  her  bright  eager 
fashion. 

"  Everybody  has  gone  driving  except  Cousin 
Helen  and  myself,  and  I  stayed  to  receive  you. 
Now  that  was  kind  of  me.  wasn't  it  ?  Carl  and 
ISellie  are  going  by  the  Academy  for  you,  and 
will  be  dreadfully  disappointed  that  they've 
missed  you.  But  I'm  glad  you  didn't  wait. 
We'll  have  time  to  have  a  little  talk  before  we 
go  out  this  evening. 

"  Go  out  this  evening?"  echoed  Ruth,  in  a 
surprised  tone.     "  Where  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I'd  forgotten  you  didn't  receive  my 
note  I  sent  by  Nellie  this  afternoon.  Mrs.  Brice 
has  asked  us  to  a  musicale  this  evening.  Well, 
not  a  musicale  exactly,  but  the  Misses  Vandoren 
are  to  be  there,  and  some  other  friends,  and 
there's  to  be  music — ^just  a  quiet  affair,  and  I 
knew  you  wouldn't  mind  going." 

"  And  you  accepted  for  me  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  did,  you  little  nun."  said  Agnes, 
laughing.  "  And  now  don't  look  so  alarmed  as 
if  I'd  done  something  dreadful.  You  are  not 
expected  to  play  or  sing  a  single  piece." 

"  But  Agnes,  you  know  I've  not  been  to  a  so- 


284  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

cial  gathering  of  any  kind  since  papa's  death, 
and  I  do  not  feel  that  I  care  to  go." 

The  color  rose  in  Euth's  face  and  her  voice 
trembled,  for  the  old  wound  was  still  tender. 
Agnes  knew  that  she  should  win  Ruth  over  to 
her  side,  for  with  all  her  gay,  careless  ways  she 
was  irresistible  when  she  cared  to  be,  and  this 
was  a  time  when  she  cared. 

"  I  know,  darling,"  she  said,  "  but  this  is  to 
be  just  a  quiet  gathering  of  a  few  friends,  all  of 
whom  you  know,  and  I  can't  see  any  possible 
reason  why  you  shouldn't  go.  Indeed,  I  think 
it  will  be  almost  ungracious  to  refuse,  and  then 
after  you've  once  relaxed  your  rule  of  making  a 
recluse  of  yourself,  it  will  not  be  half  so  hard 
afterwards.  You  beautiful  darling,  you  know 
you  can't  always  bury  yourself  from  the  admir- 
ing gaze  of  the  world.'' 

"  Hush.  Agnes.  You're  talking  nonsense 
now,  and  I'll  not  listen  to  you,"  said  Ruth. 

"  Indeed.  I'm  not.  I  never  uttered  a  sounder 
truth.  But  come  in ;  Cousin  Helen  is  waiting 
in  the  sitting-room  to  see  you,  and  afterwards 
you  can  go  up  to  your  room  and  take  off  your 
toggery.  By  the  way.  your  cap  and  gown  are 
wonderfully  becoming  to  you — or  rather  you  are 
becoming  to  your  cap  and  gown — I  know  I 
should  look  a  perfect  fright  in  them." 

They  went  up  the  steps  arm  in  arm  and  passed 
through  the  open  window  into  the  sitting-room. 
Mrs.  Grayson  was  laying  down  on  a  low  couch, 
and  Bruce  was  stretched  out  on  the  rug  near 
her,  as  if  keeping  guard ;  and  as  soon  as  the  dog 
saw  Ruth,  he  expressed  his  delight  by  a  pleased 
grin  and  began  pounding  the  floor  with  his  tail. 
Ruth  stooped  and  patted  him  on  the  head  as  she 
passed  him  to  speak  to  Mrs.  Grayson. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  2S5 

A  stream  of  light  was  flowing  through  the 
room,  and  a  soft  wind  blew  a  sweet  rush  of  scent 
from  the  white  blossomed  cherry  trees  in  the 
garden  and  drove  the  delicate  white  flakes  drift- 
ing through  the  golden  air. 

Mrs.  Grayson  looked  up  with  a  bright  glad- 
ness on  her  gentle  face  when  the  girls  entered, 
and  then  sat  up  to  greet  them.  Her  welcome, 
as  it  always  was  to  Ruth,  was  tender  kindness 
itself,  and  while  she  talked  to  her,  Agnes  stood 
by  with  her  hand  resting  on  Ruth's  shoulder, 
watching  the  varying  expression  of  Mrs.  Gray- 
son's face,  knowing  how  tenderly  she  must  love 
her. 

"How  much  better  Mrs.  Grayson  is. "  said 
Ruth,  as  the  girls  were  on  their  way  up-stairs.  ' '  I 
had  not  expected  to  see  her  so  much  improved." 

"Yes,  she  looks  better,"  Agnes  said;  "but 
she  doesn't  gain  strength  very  fast.  Cousin 
Ralph  says  she  is  to  go  away  somewhere  for  a 
change,  in  a  week  or  two,  if  she  doesn't  gft 
stronger — "  she  stopped  suddenly. 

"  There's  the  carriage  now.  and  mamma  and 
papa  and  Cousin  Ralph  have  come  back.  I 
don't  suppose  Carl  and  Nell  have  come.  They've 
gone  by  the  Academy  for  you.  But  if  you  don't 
hurry,  darling,  we'll  hardly  have  time  to  dress 
for  tea.  It  was  quite  ready  when  you  came. 
Let  me  help  you  carry  your  bundles,  so  you  can 
manage  your  long  black  tog  better. ' ' 

"  Of  course  not."  Ruth  demurred  laughingly, 
but  the  next  moment  Agnes  had  pulled  them 
out  of  her  reluctant  arms,  held  them  with  a 
firm  grasp,  and  with  a  triumphant  look  went  on 
talking  as  unconcernedly  as  possible. 

Ruth  came  down-stairs  early  the  next  morn- 


286  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

ing  before  breakfast,  and  went  into  the  library, 
which  was  still  uninvaded,  to  answer  a  letter 
that  she  had  received  the  day  before.  She  raised 
the  window  and  flung  open  the  blinds  to  let  in 
the  light  and  allow  the  fresh,  sweet  air  to  fill  the 
room. 

A  morning  sight  of  dewy  flowers,  white  and 
gold  and  violet,  on  a  sparkling  lawn,  and  sing- 
ing birds  flitting  here  and  there,  was  spread  out 
before  her,  while  some  far-away  bells  were  ring- 
ing their  slow  chimes,  the  sound  peculiarly  in- 
tensified in  the  clear,  moist  atmosphere.  A 
scent  of  roses  flowering  on  the  treUis  floated  in, 
while  out  there  on  the  lawn  in  sheltered  nooks 
the  sunlight  had  scarcely  touched  the  gloom — 
but  all  was  bright  and  sweet  and  beautiful,  a 
glowing  melody  without,  answering  to  the  happy 
melody  within  her  own  heart — a  strange  sweet 
happiness  and  bewildering  hope  which  she  could 
not  realize. 

' '  I  am  wondering  why  you  are  up  so  early, ' ' 
said  a  voice  close  beside  her,  which  made  her 
turn  suddenly  to  meet  the  adoring  glance  of  her 
guardian. 

' '  You  came  in  so  quietly  I  never  heard  you, ' ' 
she  said,  'smiling  and  flushing.  "  I  came  down 
to  answer  Mrs.  Hawkins'  letter  which  I  received 
yesterday.  I  was  afraid  I  should  disturb  Agnes 
if  I  wrote  in  the  room  while  she  was  sleeping. 
But  when  I  opened  the  window  to  let  in  the  air 
and  light,  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to 
linger  here  just  a  little  while  and  enjoy  the  deli- 
cious freshness  and  beauty  of  the  morning  scene. 
Isn't  it  lovely?"  While  she  was  talking  she 
had  put  the  letter  in  his  hands. 

He  glanced  at  the  superscription,  which  was 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  287 

not  familiar  to  him,  then  looked  up  into  her  face 
with  a  half-furtive  scrutiny  as  if  to  observe  the 
effect  of  his  words,  and  handed  the  letter  back 
to  her. 

''In  that  case,"  he  said,  not  answering  her 
question,  ''  I'm  afraid  I  am  intruding  then,  and 
would  better  leave  you  so  as  to  give  you  an  op- 
portunity to  answer  your  letter."  Returned 
reluctantly  as  if  he  would  go  away,  though  he 
felt  that  he  could  not  part  from  her  now. 

The  color  deepened  in  her  fair,  sweet  face,  a 
faint  smile  crept  to  her  lips,  and  she  shook  her 
head. 

'  'Oh,  I  can  answer  it  some  other  time — this 
afternoon,  perhaps,  which  will  do  just  as  well. 
I  should  like  to  see  Mrs.  Grayson,  anyway,  be- 
fore I  finished  writing  it,  as  Mrs.  Hawkins  not 
only  writes  to  know  how  she  is,  but  wishes  to 
know  if  she  will  meet  her  at  Morehead  this  sum- 
mer, where  she  and  Mr.  Hawkins  expect  to 
spend  several  weeks.  I  suppose  she  writes  this 
early  so  as  to  give  Mrs.  Grayson  time  to  consider 
her  proposition  before  she  makes  arrangements 
to  go  elsewhere  to  spend  the  summer.  Perhaps 
you  can  tell  me  ?  "  then  smiling — "  Indeed  you 
are  not  disturbing  me." 

He  turned  back.  "  Then  I  will  stay,  since 
you  do  not  forbid  it.  for  I  came  here  purposely 
to  see  and  to  talk  with  you.  I  have  seen  so 
little  of  you  since  our  good  friends  came,  even 
when  you  are  at  home — and  your  school  duties, 
too,  have  made  such  a  drain  upon  your  time,  and 
I  fear  to  the  utter  disregard  of  your  health." 
He  looked  at  her  keenly  and  tenderly  for  a  mo- 
ment. 

He  seemed  to  couie  to  a  sudden  resolve  about 


288  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

what  he  had  to  say,  and  went  on.  smiHng; 
"  Yes,  I  intend  to  order  the  last  one  of  you  off 
to  the  seashore  in  June,  so  you  may  write  and 
say  as  much  to  Mrs.  Hawkins.  I  beheve  you 
need  the  change  quite  as  much  as  Helen  does. 
I  shall  not  compromise  or  even  argue  the  question 
with  her  as  I  did  last  summer,  as  to  whether  or 
not  she  go  or  reuiain  I  see  it  is  best  for  you 
both  to  have  the  change,  so  opposition  to  my 
plans  will  amount  to  nothing.'"  There  was  a 
flash  of  merrimeut  in  his  handsome  eyes. 

' '  I  did  not  speak  of  this  before,  because  I  had 
not  quite  decided  upon  the  exact  location  for  the 
season,  but  Mrs,  Hawkins'  letter  has  turned  the 
scale  in  favor  of  Morehead,  and  makes  it  sure 
that  you  go  there.  Besides  the  physical  benefit 
which  you  will  be  sure  to  derive  from  the  trip, 
and  this  can  not  be  overestimated,  there  is  the 
charming  social  and  intellectual  enjoyment  in 
meeting  with  many  of  the  most  brilliant  intel- 
lects of  both  sexes  in  the  State ;  and  you  will 
have  an  opportunity  to  attend  the  meetings  of 
the  Teachers'  Assembly,  that  great  body  of  edu- 
cators which  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  United 
States,  and  which  hold  their  annual  meetings  in 
their  own  handsome  builiding  down  by  the  sea. 
The  ability  and  influence  of  this  vast  educational 
organization  is  so  comprehensive  in  its  scope, 
and  so  deeply  impressed  upon  current  affairs, 
that  these  meetings  have  become  an  event  of 
much  more  than  ordinary  or  mere  local  impor- 
tance. Then  there  are  other  attractions  to  be 
found  at  Morehead — the  fishing  and  sailing,  the 
pure  salt  air,  surf -bathing  and  the  many  places 
of  historical  interest  near  by  to  visit.  Yes,  I've 
quite  decided  upon  Morehead  as  the  place  infi- 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  289 

nitely  preferable  to  any  other  for  this  summer's 
outing.  I  shall  take  care  to  write  to  the  propri- 
etor of  the  Atlantic  Hotel  in  good  time  to  have 
him  reserve  several  of  his  most  desirable  rooms 
in  advance  for  me,  and  I'm  sure  you'll  find  there 
every  possible  accommodation  and  comfort. 
Agnes,  of  course,  will  accompany  you  and  Mrs. 
Grayson,  and  I  believe  she  will  enjoy  the  recrea- 
tions and  amusements  provided.  Now  tell  me 
what  do  you  think  of  my  arrangement  ?  Will 
it  be  pleasant — is  it  agreeable  to  you  ?"  he  asked 
in  a  kind  tone. 

"  Perfectly  so,  to  me,  and  I  think  I  may  speak 
affirmatively  for  Agnes,  too.  I  believe  she  will 
be  delighted.'' 

He  meditated  for  a  little,  then  said:  "Now 
there  is  something  else  I  wish  to  talk  to  you 
about — something  I  came  here  specially  to  say 
to  you."  He  hesitated  again,  and  seemed  to  be 
bracing  himself  for  some  unpleasant  ordeal, 
while  Ruth's  quick  sympathy  with  him  made 
her  turn  and  look  at  him  with  an  anxious 
searching  glance. 

The  sudden  serious  gravity  of  his  face  caused 
her  own  to  grow  slightly  paler  than  before, 
though  his  voice  was  peculiarly  kind  and  gentle. 
He  took  her  hand  in  his  and  held  it,  uncon- 
sciously crushing  it  in  his  strong  clasp.  Her  heart 
began  to  throb  with  a  quick  sense  of  pain,  and 
she  turned  her  troubled  face  again  to  the  win- 
dow and  gazed  out  on  the  wide-stretching  lawn, 
but  scarcely  seeing  the  sunny  landscape  which 
a  moment  before  had  never  seemed  to  glow  more 
brightly,  more  beautifully. 

"  Ruth,  look  at  me  and  listen  to  what  I  have 
to  say, ' '  he  pleaded,  gently  turning  her  face  to 


290  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

him,  "and  don't  look  so  grieved.  What  I  am 
going  to  say  to  you  need  not  give  you  a  moment's 
pain.  There,  let  me  see  the  old  sweet  smile  play- 
ing again  about  your  lips — that  inimitable  smile 
of  yours,  which  will  yet,  in  spite  of  yourself, 
pardon  what  I  am  about  to  say — make  wiUing 
slaves  of  men.  I  was  beginning  to  reproach  my- 
self that  I  had  driven  it  away  from  your  sweet 
face."  Then,  after  a  little  pause,  he  went  on: 
"  Euth.  you  remember  the  compact  made  be- 
tween us  several  months  ago?"  The  question 
seemed  to  take  her  aback  for  a  moment,  but  she 
looked  up,  her  eyes  wide  open  with  wonder,  and 
she  said  quickly: 

' '  Yes,  certainly  I  remember.  I  could  not  for- 
get it  so  soon." 

"  Well,  for  certain  reasons,  some  things  I  said 
to  you  on  that  occasion,  I  wish  to  repeat  again, 
because  the  time  has  come,  or  will  come  very 
soon,  when  you  must  leave  the  quiet  and  shel- 
tered seclusion  of  a  student's  life  which  you  have 
led  so  long,  and  take  your  place  in  the  world — 
that  social  world  which  will  claim  you,  and  in 
which  your  brilliant  genius,  your  transcendent 
beauty,  and  attractive  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart,  will  ..asily  make  you  a  bright  and  shining 
leader.  Ruth,  you  will  be,  as  you  know,  the 
acknowledged  queen  in  the  charmed  circle  in 
which  you  will  move,  and  you  will  justly  win, 
too,  the  distinction  accorded  to  you.  Your  com- 
pany will  be  eagerly  sought  by  the  distinguished, 
the  worthy,  and  the  brave,  who  will  come  to 
you,  perhaps  full  of  honors,  bow  themselves  and 
lay  their  all  at  your  feet.  Do  you  know,  there 
seems  to  be  a  sort  of  penalty  for  being  surpass- 
ingly beautiful,  and  it  has  often  been  asserted 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  291 

that  very  few  women  who  have  become  famous 
by  their  beauty  have  lived  to  a  mature  age  of 
reasonable  content  and  happiness.  However  this 
may  be,  I  think  we  need  beauty  just  as  truly  as 
we  need  truth,  for  it  is  as  much  a  part  of  our 
lives,  and  as  much  a  quality  of  divinity  as  right- 
eousness."  He  remained  silent  a  moment,  and 
gave  her  another  keen  glance  before  he  said: 
"  Ruth,  remember  I  do  not  bind  you  by  promise 
or  outward  token  to  be  my  wife.  But  God  grant, 
darling,  that  you  may  not  make  the  fatal  mis- 
take of  marrying  a  man  you  do  not  love,  or  your 
loving  heart  will  soon  be  broken  and  you  will 
wilt  away  like  a  tender  flower  plucked  by  rude 
hands."' 

Another  moment  he  bent  his  head,  and  made 
a  motion  to  turn  away.  Something  so  like  a 
moan  escaped  him  and  shook  his  strong  frame 
that  it  wrung  her  heart. 

Raising  her  hand  she  laid  it  lightly,  and  it 
seemed  unconsciously,  upon  his  arm.  This  first 
shy  caress  of  hers,  the  first  which  she  had  ever 
given  him,  was  one  of  the  deepest  love  and  sym- 
pathy, and  he  so  understood  it. 


292  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

One  bright  morning  Carl,  Ruth  and  Agnes, 
with  Virgil  as  coachman,  made  a  tour  about  the 
town,  with  the  special  view  of  visiting  the  Mu- 
seum, which  was  always  an  object  of  interest  to 
strangers. 

The  carriage  stopped  before  a  plain,  brick  build- 
ing, with  a  tiled  roof — a  building  whose  antiq- 
uity and  association  made  it  specially  interest- 
ing to  visitors. 

They  dismounted  and  went  in  and  found  many 
things  of  great  interest  and  value — things  which 
represented  the  life  and  times  of  the  first  colo- 
nists of  the  old  Moravian  town ;  and  there  were 
other  relics  of  equal  interest  and  value  from  for- 
eign shores,  donated  by  foreign  missionaries. 
Here  were  large  show-cases  filled  with  minerals 
of  the  country,  petrifications  and  precious  stones ; 
and  many  from  all  over  the  world,  were  arranged 
along  the  walls.  Here,  cases  of  shells  of  every 
known  variety;  large  collections  of  butterflies; 
reptiles  in  alcohol;  stuffed  birds;  anaconda;  alli- 
gator and  crocodile ;  sea  turtle ;  musk-deer.  Here 
varieties  of  woods;  varieties  of  birds'  eggs,  in- 
cluding ostrich;  specimens  of  coral;  sea -weed; 
Indian  relics;  military  weapons  of  Revolutionary 
and  Confederate  times  were  found  also.  Then 
there  were  a  large  number  of  old  books — among 
them  a  German  Bible,  leather  back  and  brass 
bound,  printed  in  1569.  A  cream-colored  glazed 
tile  stove,  decorated  with  leaves,  six  feet  high, 
with  claw  legs,  stood  on  one  side  of  the  princi- 
pal room — there  were  two  apartments  in  the 
building.     The  first  piano  brought  to  the  Mora- 


IN    THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  293 

vian  town  occupied  a  prominent  position ;  once 
belonging  to  the  old  Moravian  tavern,  and  used 
during  General  VV' ashington's  visit,  for  his  enter- 
taininent.  Here  was  an  odd  old  instrument  for 
taking  profiles,  before  the  days  of  Daguerre; 
a  wooden  foot  stove,  with  heater,  used  in  travel- 
ing ;  a  small  loom  for  weaving  tape  for  domestic 
use  by  the  ladies ;  reels  of  different  kinds ;  flax 
wheels  where  was  spun  the  beautiful  linen  kept 
as  heirlooms  in  the  Moravian  families ;  German 
traveling  baskets,  used  by  the  first  settlers ;  old 
clock  from  the  Sisters'  House;  leather  buckets 
of  the  first  fire  engine ;  stamps  for  printing  cal- 
ico :  bottles  and  pitchers  of  china  and  glassware ; 
ship  trunks ;  first  street  lamp  used  in  the  Mora- 
vian town  in  1789:  a  parchment  covered  Bible; 
high-backed  chairs,  similar  to  the  one  donated 
by  the  Brethren  to  the  North  Carolina  room  at 
Mt.  Vernon ;  and  many  other  things  were  in  the 
general  collection.  Here  was  an  Esquimo  case ; 
a  Chinese  corner,  with  idol,  lacquered  ware,  tea 
chests  and  all  kinds  of  their  work ;  a  large  col- 
lection of  valuable  coins  from  all  countries,  and 
a  beautiful  exhibit  of  Colonial  and  Continental 
State  and  United  States  currency.  One  of  these 
was  curious: 

"  Two  Pence. 
"  We,  or  either  of  us,  promise  to  pay  Two  Pence 
on  demand. 

"  Oct.  22,  1803. 
' '  Conrad  Kaiser. ' ' 

This  was  a  check  for  change  in  a  store.  One 
collection  was  of  special  interest — the  traveling 
outfit  of  the  Moravians  who  came  from  Penn- 
sylvania and  settled  in  Bethabara,  consisting  of 


294  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

a  small  iron  pot,  pewter  plates  and  cups,  tea- 
pot, coffee-pot,  gallon,  quart,  pint  and  gill  meas- 
ures, lard- oil  lamp,  all  made  of  the  same  metal, 
and  occupied  one  corner  alone. 

Above  were  arranged  specimens  of  the  early 
pottery — the  large  dish  which  was  the  old  pot- 
tery sign,  decorated  in  colors,  brown,  green  and 
yellow — 1773  being  most  prominent.  Here,  too, 
were  specimens  of  tableware,  ornaments  for 
mantels,  moulds  for  pewter  plates,  as  everything 
practical  and  ornamental  was  made  at  the  pot- 
tery that  could  be  made  in  clay.  Around  the 
room  were  framed  certificates  of  the  skill  of  their 
early  workmen  brought  from  Europe,  as,  accord- 
ing to  the  old  custom,  no  man  was  allowed  to 
ply  his  trade  without  such  a  certificate.  Oil 
paintings,  donated  by  citizens,  brought  over  with 
their  household  treasures ;  some  of  them  said  to 
have  been  done  by  some  of  the  old  masters — at 
any  rate  they  were  very  fine. 

Here  was  a  steel  print  of  Count  Zinzendorf  and 
his  wife  Erdmuth  Dorathea ;  steel  engravings  of 
Amos  Comenius,  done  before  his  death  in  167o; 
Christian  David,  and  others,  whose  names  have 
been  mentioned  in  a  sketch  of  the  Moravians ; 
noted  Bishops  and  Brethren,  amongst  them  Peter 
Boehler,  the  devoted  Moravian  in  whose  com- 
pany John  Wesley,  founder  of  the  Methodists, 
crossed  the  ocean  during  his  voyage  to  America, 
and  to  whom  he  declared  he  owed  his  conversion. 
The  high  pulpit,  with  sounding-board  above, 
brass  candlesticks  and  chandeliers  used  in  the 
Moravian  Church  when  first  built  in  1800,  were 
preserved  here  intact ;  and  many  things  too  nu- 
merous to  mention. 

When  they  had  taken  their  seats  in  the  car- 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  295 

riage  and  were  driving  up  Main  Street,  through 
the  almost  silent  city — for  the  roar  and  bustle  of 
Winston  scarcely  reached  the  old  Moravian 
town — Carl  turned  to  Agnes  and  asked, 

"  Well,  have  you  been  repaid  for  your  time 
and  trouble  ?  Are  you  much  disappointed  in  the 
Museum  ?  ' " 

"Not  in  the  least.  I  have  been  most  dehght- 
fully  entertained  looking  at  those  old  relics.  I 
had  no  dream  you  had  such  things  here — and 
dear  me,  just  to  think  what  a  place  for  relic 
hunters.  I  think  they  must  nearly  go  wild  to  get 
hold  of  many  of  those  things  there.  Do  many 
people  know  about  them,  outside  of  the  city  ?  '' 

"•  A  poi'tion  of  those  things  was  taken  to  the 
State  Exposition  at  Raleigh,  in  1884,''  said  Ruth, 
''  with  the  exhibit  of  fancy  work  and  art  from 
the  Academy  during  the  eighty  years  of  its 
establishmeut,  at  that  time,  together  with  the 
county  exhibit  carefully  collected,  and  this  county 
gained  the  one  hundred  dollar  premium  offered 
for  the  finest  county  exhibit  in  North  Carolina. 
I  have  visited  the  Museum  several  times;  and  I 
always  find  something  interesting  each  time- 
something  I  had  not  seen  before. 

"  I'd  like  to  have  those  eggs  and  butterflies," 
said  Nellie,  "and  some  of  those  stuffed  birds; 
but  those  snakes^ — ^ugh !  I  don't  want  to  see  them 
any  more.  I'm  afraid  I'll  dream  about  them  to- 
night." 

' '  Where  to  now,  please,  Mr.  Carl  ? " "  Virgil 
asked,  glancing  sidewise  over  his  shoulder,  and 
keeping  an  eye  on  the  gamesome  horses.  He 
slackened  their  pace  just  a  little. 

Carl  took  out  his  watch.  ''  Where  do  you  and 
Ruth  wish  to  go  now?"  he  asked,  looking  at 
Agnes,  then  at  Ruth. 


296  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


a 


Wherever  Agnes  proposes, '  ■  said  Euth.  "I'm 
out  for  her  special  pleasure  to-day,  so  have  no 
preference,  or  any  suggestions  to  make  or  offer." 

"  Will  we  have  time  to  visit  one  of  the  facto- 
ries— one  of  those  large  plug  factories — before 
noon?" 

' '  Yes,  ample  time. ' ' 

' '  Then  let  us  go  to  one  of  these  first,  and  after- 
guards we  can  go  to  one  of  the  warehouses  where 
the  tobacco  is  sold.  I  have  the  greatest  curiosity 
to  see  both." 

"  Virgil,  drive  to  Mr,  Raynor's  factory.  R.  J." 
Then  he  turned  to  Agnes  again.  "  Our  tobacco 
factories  are  no  doll  houses,  I  assure  you.  The 
one  we  are  going  to  now  is  one  of  the  largest 
plug  factories  south  of  Baltimore,  and  does  an 
extensive  business.  The  sales,  I  am  told,  extend 
all  over  the  South,  and  as  far  north  as  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  west  as  far  as  St.  Louis.  The  build- 
ing, too,  you  will  see  when  we  get  there,  is  a 
splendid  structure,  has  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments, and  is  built  almost  entirely  fireproof. ' ' 

' '  I  should  like  to  know,  as  a  matter  of  abstract 
curiosity,  you  know,"  Agnes  said,  but  with  evi- 
dently genuine  interest,  ' '  how  many  workmen 
these  factories  employ,  and  if  they  are  all  col- 
ored— I  mean  the  majorityof  them." 

"  They  generally  employ  from  two  to  eight 
hundred  hands  each — the  greater  number  being 
negroes,  who  prefer  to  work  in  crowds, "  said 
Carl,  in  an  instructive  tone.  "  Now  is  there  any- 
thing else  you  wish  to  know  ?  I'll  do  my  Level 
Best  "  (emphasizing  Level  Best)  "  to  give  you  any 
information  you  may  desire.  I  am  glad  to  see 
vou  so  interested  in  some  of  our  great  enter- 
prises, and- 


j) 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  297 

''  No,  no,  that  will  do,"  she  interrupted,  with 
a  characteristic  wave  of  her  hand.  "  What's  the 
use  ?  We'll  soon  be  there  now,  and  I  can  see  for 
myself. ' ' 

"  We  must  try  to  gain  a  little  time  and  get  a 
bird's-eye-view  of  the  city  from  the  observa- 
tory,'' said  Ruth.  ''  I  think  we  may  do  this  if 
we'll  not  spend  too  much  time  inspecting  the 
different  departments. ' '  She  looked  at  Carl  for 
a  suggestion. 

"I  don't  know,"  he  answered  reflectively, 
"  but  I  dare  say  we'll  take  the  time  anyway." 

"  Of  course  we  will,"  said  Agnes,  decisively. 
"  We  must  see  all  there's  to  be  seen,  good,  bad 
and  indifferent." 

"  That  settles  it,"  laughed  Carl;  "  you  know 
when  a  'woman  will,'  and  so  on — but  here  we 
are." 

A  brisk  drive  had  soon  brought  them  to  their 
destination,  and  when  the  carriage  halted  and 
Carl  helped  them  out,  he  stopped  to  tell  Virgil 
to  call  for  them  at  the  expiration  of  an  hour, 
and  then  led  the  way  into  the  factory.  They 
entered  a  large,  square  hall- way,  on  the  left  of 
which  was  the  office  and  private  receiving-room 
of  the  proprietor,  where  Carl  went  at  once  to  as- 
certain if  they  could  be  admitted  into  the  various 
departments  and  shown  over  the  building. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  returned,  accompanied  by 
a  tall,  fair-haired  man,  about  thirty-five,  with  a 
blonde  moustache,  and  whom  Carl  introduced  as 
Mr.  Kyle.  In  tne  absence  of  the  proprietor,  Mr. 
Kyle  had  courteously  offered  to  show  them 
through  the  factory. 

"  I  don't  suppose  we'll  have  time  to  see  every- 
thing," said  Agnes,  "but  merely  get  a  glimpse." 

20 


298  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

' '  Hardly  more  than  that  on  so  short  a  visit, ' ' 
returned  Mr.  Kyle.  ''  But  you  can  form  some 
general  idea  how  the  work  is  carried  on.'' 

Then  he  opened  a  large  double  door,  behind 
which  the  sound  of  singing  and  the  monotonous 
thumps  of  blows  from  the  workmen's  mallets 
which  had  sounded  so  distant  in  the  hall,  now 
came  nearer  and  nearer.  In  the  center  of  the  im- 
mense room  some  men  were  talking  and  examin- 
ing a  peculiar  kind  of  machine,  the  like  of  which 
Euth  and  Agnes  had  never  seen  before,  but 
w^hich  Mr.  Kyle  explained  to  them  was  a  casing 
machine,  telling  them  how  and  for  what  pur- 
pose it  was  to  be  used  when  put  in  place. 

Colored  men  and  women  sat  in  chairs  along 
the  sides  of  this  room,  and  opened  leaves  of 
tobacco  carefully,  examined  it  closely,  and  then 
put  each  kind  in  piles  (between  stakes)  of  like 
variety. 

' '  This  is  called  classing  tobacco,  * '  Mr.  Kyle 
explained,  as  they  sauntered  along,  pausing  oc- 
casionally to  watch  the  busy  workers ;  ' '  and 
those  who  work  at  this  must  be  expert  enough 
to  distinguish  the  difference  in  each  leaf,  and  be 
able  to  place  it  in  its  proper  position.  From  here 
it  is  taken  to  the  casing  room,  where  it  is  spread 
upon  a  large  platform  and  sprinkled  with  a  solu- 
tion of  licorice  and  granulated  sugar,  with  a 
flavoring  of  dried  peaches,  or  other  preferred  fla- 
vor, then  tossed  about  and  shaken  together  until 
perfectly  distributed  among  the  mass.  After 
being  thoroughly  cased,  it  is  thrown  through 
trap-doors  into  the  rolling-room  below.  The 
heat  in  the  casing-room  is  very  great,  as  the  huge 
kettles,  holding  as  much  as  fifty  gallons  of  the 
mixture,  have  to  be  kept  boiling  by  steam  all  the 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  299 

time,  and  it  must  go  on  the  tobacco  while  it  is 
warm  enough  to  spread.'' 

They  stood  silent  a  moment,  watching  the 
workers,  who  kept  their  tongues  wagging  to  the 
plying  of  their  nimble  fingers  as  they  spread  out 
the  golden  leaves.  The  largest  leaves  were  re- 
served for  wrappers  for  the  plug  tobacco.  As 
they  passed  on  to  the  rolling- room,  Carl  bowed 
right  and  left  to  those  among  the  workmen 
whom  he  recognized,  and  stopped  every  now  and 
then  to  make  some  friendly  remark,  as  v.^as  his 
custom. 

The  rolling- room  presented  a  scene  not  easily 
forgotten.  Work  benches  eight  and  ten  feet  in 
length,  and  two  and  a  half  or  three  feet  wide, 
were  placed  in  rows  throughout  the  apartment. 
These  benches  had  two  sides,  generally  two  for 
each  roller,  who  worked  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  bench.  The  stemmers  deftly  stripped  the  leaf 
from  the  stem  and  passed  it  over  to  the  roller, 
who  spread  out  three  or  four  leaves  together,  and 
by  a  dexterous  movement  shaped  it  in  form  of 
a  plug,  cut  off  the  ragged  end  by  a  tobacco  cut- 
ter— a  small  knife  worked  by  lever — put  on  the 
wrapper,  weighed  it  on  a  small  scale  which  stood 
to  the  right  of  his  bench,  and  then  it  was  taken 
to  the  receiver,  who  stood  at  a  table  on  the  side 
of  the  same  room,  where  it  was  again  weighed 
that  each  lump  might  be  uniformly  perfect. 

Mr.  Kyle  carefully  explained  everything  which 
they  did  not  understand.  Ruth  was  silent  and 
listened,  but  Agnes  was  bright  and  responding, 
and  laughed  and  chatted,  asking  the  most  absurd 
questions,  and  enjoying  everything  with  the  en- 
ergy and  enthusiasm  of  a  child. 

"Don't    you    remember.    Agnes, '"   Carl   said. 


300  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

turning  to  her,  "  when  you  first  came,  NeUie's 
showing  you  several  large  cardboards  with  bits 
of  tin  in  different  shapes  and  colors  pasted  or 
clamped  upon  them,  and  a  box  of  bright  colored 
paper  pictures — such  names  as  '  Maud  MuUer, ' 
'Wild  Turkey,'  '  First  Fruit, '  'Spanker,'  'Ada 
Bryan, '  '  Old  Rabbit  Gum, '  '  Old  Rover, '  '  Big 
Auger,'  'Elegant,'  'Lucille,'  'Ben  Hur, '  'Golden 
Shpper,'  'Old  Bob,'  '  Ellen  Fisher,'  'B.  B.  Best,' 
'  Old  Oaken  Bucket, '  '  Waverly, '  '  Top, '  '  Level 
Best,'  '  R.  J.  R.,'  '  Rich  and  Waxy,'  '  Stars  and 
Bars,'  '  Red  Eye,'  '  Red  Seal,'  '  Blue  Stocking,' 
'  Clear  Stone,'  '  Henry  Grady,'  and — " 

Agnes  playfully  threw  her  hands  up  and  held 
them  over  her  ears.  "  Do  spare  us,  and  don't,  for 
my  sake,  go  through  the  whole  catalogue  now.' 

The  carriage  next  stopped  in  the  midst  of  a 
tangle  of  drays,  carriages  and  covered  wagons, 
standing  before  an  immense  brick  building, 
one  portion  of  which  was  occupied  by  at  least 
eighty-five  covered  wagons  and  teams,  and  the 
other  i^ortion,  which  was  cleanly  swept,  by  long 
rovv^s  of  tobacco,  placed  in  piles  with  tags  stuck 
on  the  end  of  a  small  stick,  like  so  many  little 
flags — these  bearing  the  number  of  pounds  in 
each  pile  and  the  farmer's  name. 

This  much  iVgnes  and  Ruth  could  see  through 
the  broad  open  doorway,  and  when  they  got 
down  and  went  in,  they  had  a  good  view  of  the 
scene  upon  the  floor,  which  was  interesting  and 
exciting  beyond  description. 

It  was  as  novel  a  sight  to  Ruth  as  to  Agnes, 
for,  notwithstanding  she  had  been  in  the  city  so 
long,  and  it  was  not  an  unusual  thing  for  ladies 
to  visit  the  great  warehouses  to  witness  a 
"  break,"  yet  Ruth,  for  no  particular  reason,  had 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  301 

ever  availed  herself  of  the  opportunity,  and  so 
this  was  a  new  phase  of  the  city's  life  to  her 
altogether — a  phase  of  busy  life  she  had  never 
conceived  of,  and  she  found  it  a  very  exciting  one. 

The  stentorian  voice  of  the  auctioneer  rose 
above  every  other  sound  as  he  passed  from  pile 
to  pile  of  tobacco,  bidding  it  off  to  the  manufac- 
turers and  dealers  who  followed  him  in  crowds, 
while  the  farmers,  with  anxious  faces,  watched 
eagerly  the  progress  of  the  sale,  and  groups  of 
disinterested  people  looked  on. 

"  Do  you  know  what  the  auctioneer  is  saying. 
Cousin  Agnes?"  asked  Nellie,  raising  her  voice 
so  as  to  make  herself  heard.  ''  Can  you  under- 
stand a  single  word  ?  ' ' 

"  No,  it  is  all  Sanscrit  to  me,"  she  said,  shak- 
ing her  head.  Agnes  stood  a  moment  in  silence, 
then  turned  to  Carl  and  asked : 

"  When  the  tobacco  is  sold  and  taken  from  the 
warehouse  where  is  it  carried  '? ' ' 

He  pointed  to  a  number  of  drays  standing  be- 
fore the  open  door,  upon  which  were  stacked  a 
pile  of  oak  split  baskets  of  peculiar  shape,  about 
four  feet  square  and  four  inches  deep. 

' '  The  tobacco  is  taken  to  the  factories  on  those 
baskets.  Sometimes  as  much  as  five  to  eight 
hundred  pounds  are  piled  on  a  basket  and  hauled 
on  the  drays,  one  basket  above  another  until  the 
load  is  complete.  When  received  in  the  factory, 
it  is  hung  separately  on  racks,  sometimes  five 
deep,  reaching  from  floor  to  ceiling,  where  it  is 
allowed  to  dry  thoroughly.  ^Tou  saw  how  it  is 
managed  at  Mr.  Eaynor's  factory  '?  " 

' '  Yes,  I  remember, ' '  returned  Agnes — then 
hurriedly,  ' '  Come,  let  us  be  going ;  the  odor  of 
the  tobacco  sickens  me." 


302  UNDER   GOLDEN   RKIES :    OR. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

"  nood-morning.  True  to  time,"  said  Carl, 
greeting  Agnes  and  Ruth  as  they  entered  the 
breakfast -room  very  early  the  next  morning, 
both  prepared  to  attend  the  sunrise  Easter  ser- 
vice at  the  Moravian  church.  He  drew  two  chairs 
out  from  the  table,  on  either  side  of  him.  for 
them  to  sit  down. 

"  Nell  and  I  have  breakfasted,  but  we'll  wait 
for  you  two.  Are  you  quite  sure,  little  coz,  that 
you  feel  equal  to  going?  ''  he  asked,  turning  to 
Agnes.     "  Nerves  all  right,  I  suppose  ?  '' 

"  Oh,  yes,  quite  sure.  I  never  felt  better.  Do 
I  look  like  an  invalid?"  she  laughed,  turning 
her  face  glowing  with  life,  sparkle  and  happi- 
ness full  upon  him. 

"Not  a  bit  of  it— on  the  contrary,  you  look 
unusuallv  bright  and  radiant;  positively  beau- 
tiful." 

"  Thanks.  I  wasn't  angling  for  a  compliment. 
I  think  when  you  visited  Blarney  Castle  in  the 
Emerald  Isle,  you  must  have  kissed  the  Blarney 
Stone,"  she  said,  and  gayly  repeated: 


"  There  is  a  stone  there 
That  whoever  kisses 
Oh,  he  never  misses 
To  grow  eloquent—" 

Carl  laughed.  Yes,  I  did,  indeed,  kiss  the  iden- 
tical stone,  the  one  Sir  Walter  Scott  saluted,  on 
the  northeast  angle  of  the  tower,  and  which 
bears  the  date  1703.  Since  which  time  I've  been 
'  a  clever  spouter,'  or  '  an  out  and  outer.'  " 

"To  be  left  alone,  '  Agnes  hastily  concluded 
for  him;  "  so  I'U  leav^e  you  alone." 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  303 

Then  Nellie  diverted  her  attention. 

"  YoQ  Uttle  wretch,  Nell.  How  in  the  world 
did  yon  manage  to  get  up  so  early  ?  I  thought 
you  were  in  bed  and  sound  asleep. ' ' 

"  Oh,  Julia  woke  me  when  she  woke  you  and 
Cousin  Rath.  I  wanted  to  hear  the  horns,  but 
I  didn't." 

'"  What  horns  ?  What  are  you  talking  about '?" 

"  Why  don't  you  know  the  horns  the  Mora- 
vians blow  at  the  corners  of  the  streets  every 
Easter  morning,  about  three  o'clock  ?  But  they 
only  blow  them  in  Salem,  and  I  don't  think  we 
are  near  enough  to  hear  them." 

Carl  explained  the  Moravian  custom  which 
Nellie  alluded  to,  and  Agnes  said: 

"  Well,  I  am  really  sorry  I  didn't  hear  them. 
Why  didn't  you  have  me  up  in  time,  and  I  could 
have  gone  somewhere  where  I  could  have  heard. ' ' 

' '  I  think  it  was  raining  a  little  about  that 
hour,"  said  Carl. 

''Raining!  Well,  is  it  now?"  she  asked  in 
dismay. 

"  No,  but  it's  real  cloudy.  Cousin  Agnes,  and 
looks  as  if  it  were  going  to  pour  down  rain  every 
minute,"  said  Nellie. 

"  Surely  not.  That's  too  provoking!  "  Agnes 
rose,  went  to  the  window  and  looked  out,  then 
came  back,  frowning  a  little. 

"•  I  do  ])elieve  it  is  going  to  rain.  "  What  shall 
we  do — go  now,  or  wait  and  see  if  the  weather 
means  to  settle  the  question  for  us  ?  " 

"  We'll  go  now.  I  don't  think  it  is  going  to 
rain.''  said  Carl,  "  and  even  if  it  does  there'll  be 
service  in  the  church,  which  is  waterproof,  and 
no  danger  of  our  getting  a  drenching." 

Ruth  had  risen  from  the  table  and  was  draw- 
ing on  her  gloves. 


304  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


a 


If  we  are  ready  to  go, ' '  she  said,  ' '  we  would 
better  be  starting.  I  believe  we  are  late  already. ' " 

VA^hen  they  reached  the  Square  in  the  old  his- 
torical town,  an  air  of  disoccupatiou  yet  per- 
vaded it,  and  it  was  as  still  as  death.  The  weird 
moonUght  seemed  to  bring  out  more  vividly  and 
picturesquely  the  antiquity  of  the  low  gabled 
houses  by  which  it  was  flanked  on  the  right  and 
left. 

They  drove  to  the  upper  part  on  the  left  of 
the  Square,  and  got  out  in  front  of  the  Mora- 
vian church,  facing  a  short  narrow  street,  where 
the  impressive  services  were  to  be  held.  As 
yet  but  few  persons  had  gathered,  but  a  blue- 
coated  policeman  moved  mechanically  up  and 
down  the  space  before  the  church,  through  the 
many  paned  windows  of  which  struggled  a  dim, 
wavering  light.  Some  children  very  quietly  sat 
upon  the  stone  steps  of  the  little  arch-covered 
stoop  jutting  out  from  the  broad  portal  of  the 
edifice,  and  from  which  arch  swung  a  large  globe 
lantern  brightly  lighted. 

As  the  clock  in  the  church  gable  struck  five 
and  the  bell  in  the  steeple  emphasized  the  hour, 
the  people  began  to  gather,  not  by  twos  or  threes 
or  even  by  dozens  at  a  time,  but  by  hundreds, 
until  all  available  standing  room  in  front  and  on 
either  side  of  the  church  was  a  dense  mass  of 
breathing  humanity.  But  there  was  no  impa- 
tient jostling,  no  disturbing  sound,  and  even 
low-whispered  talking  for  the  time  was  hushed; 
but  over  all  there  was  a  holy  expectancy — that 
kind  of  restraint  which  the  remembrance  of  the 
occasion  had  put  upon  every  worshipper  present, 
and  which  seemed  to  uplift  the  soul  into  that 
many-toned  peace  which  one  finds  in  the  spiritual 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  305 

atmosphere  where  one  breathes  naught  but 
drauglits  of  pure  love. 

When,  half  an  hoar  later,  the  door  of  the 
church  opened  and  the  musicians  with  their 
brass  instruments  came  silently  down  the  steps 
and  took  their  positions  in  front,  near  the  en- 
trance way,  there  was  a  momentary  hum  and 
stir,  and  then  amid  the  solemn  hush  which  fol- 
lowed, that  grand  and  consecrated  man  of  God, 
the  revered  pastor  of  the  church,  came  out  and 
stood  on  the  little  stoop  beneath  the  glowing 
lamp,  facing  the  vast  audience. 

Then  he  read  in  a  voice  of  pathetic  cadence  the 
joyous  message,  "  Christ  is  risen  from  the  dead," 
and  a  thrill  of  ecstacy,  mingled  with  gratitude 
and  love,  struck  through  the  fragrant  air,  and 
seemed  to  find  a  responsive  echo  of  thankgsiving 
in  every  gladsome  heart.  With  rapt  attention 
thousands  of  souls  listened  with  reverent,  up- 
turned faces  to  catch  every  word  of  the  sweet, 
glad  tidings  of  Him  who  gave  His  life  as  a  ran- 
som for  al),  as,  with  the  holy  passion  vibrant  in 
his  voice,  it  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  beloved 
pastor. 

After  the  choir  had  sung,  with  a  delicious 
strain  of  harmony,  the  beautiful  anthem  that 
had  been  chosen  to  fittingly  commemorate  the 
most  significant  day  of  the  Christian  year,  a  mo  - 
ment's  quiet  again  fell  over  the  expectant  mul- 
titude. 

Then  the  vast  assembly  noiselessly  and  rapidly 
formed  in  line,  and  headed  by  the  band  of  mu- 
sicians rendering  sweet  music,  marched  four 
abreast  to  the  Moravian  graveyard,  two  blocks 
beyond  the  church. 

Conspicuous  among  the  great  crowd  were  over 


306  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

two  hundred  cadets  and  officers  in  full  uniform, 
from  the  Military  School,  whose  graceful  bearing 
and  regular  tramp,  tramp,  tramp  on  the  hard 
pavement  lent  a  nameless  charm  to  the  immense 
procession. 

Down  the  lovely  cedar-bordered  avenue  the 
orderly  throng  passed  and  entered  the  large  gate- 
way, iDearing  over  its  white  arched  entrance  in 
gilt  letters  the  inscription,  ' '  I  Am  the  Eesurrec- 
tion  and  the  Life." 

Without  noise  or  confusion  the  multitude  filed 
in  and  congregated  along  the  broad  sanded  walk, 
that  gleamed  snow-white  amongst  the  green 
graves  lying  side  by  side,  each  with  its  little 
white  marble  tablet  resting  prone  upon  the  head 
of  the  grave,  and  eac?h  with  its  exquisite  floral 
design  placed  there  the  previous  day  by  gentle, 
loving  hands. 

There  could  scarcely  be  imagined  a  more  beau- 
tiful and  impressive  ceremony  in  the  early  morn- 
ing than  this  Easter  service,  with  its  sweet, 
sacred  music  from  a  band  of  many  instruments 
accompanying  the  singing  of  beautiful  anthems 
in  tones  of  subdued  passionate  expression. 

The  deep  silence,  the  vivid  ideality  of  the  place 
and  hour,  the  waiting  audience  and  the  solemn 
service,  drew  the  thoughts  away  from  earth  and 
all  the  natural  longings  and  aspirations  of  this 
life  to  the  divine,  in  spirit  waves  that  seemed  to 
break  fresh  out  of  the  crystal  sea  of  life,  and  roll 
onward  and  upward  till  they  struck  upon  the 
foot-stool  of  the  listening  Lord. 

The  morning  was  balmy  and  hazy,  and  pure 
white  clouds,  like  soft  filmy  veils,  trailed  them- 
selves across  the  violet  blue  sky,  now  hiding, 
now  revealing  the  blue  canopy,  and  at  last  grow- 


IK    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  307 

ing  dim  and  fading  out  altogether  into  ethereal 
nothingness.  Ruth  turned  to  Agnes  and  whis- 
pered : 

"Isn't  it  all  so  beautiful  and  grand  ?  and  it 
brings  so  vividly  to  my  mind  the  last  great  day 
when  '  a  great  multitude,  which  no  man  can 
number,  and  all  nations  and  kindreds,  and  peo- 
ple and  tongues,  will  stand  before  the  throne  and 
before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and 
palms  in  their  hands.'  Oh,  how  1  wish  that 
everyone  could  witness  this  scene.  I  am  sure 
they  would  never  forget  it. ' " 

Agnes  did  not  move  or  answer,  but  stood  like 
one  dreaming  a  beautiful  dream — listening  and 
yet  not  hstening.  Presently  she  turned  and 
looked  at  Ruth,  as  if  to  speak  to  her,  but  she 
simply  smiled  and  touched  Carl  on  the  sleeve 
and  his  eyes  followed  the  direction  of  hers. 

Ruth's  face  was  radiant,  her  whole  soul  seemed 
to  be  shining  in  her  trembling  eyes,  for,  as  she 
stood  there  amidst  that  dense  throng  in  the  soft, 
lush  morn,  the  melodious,  far-reaching  voice  of 
the  pastor  falling  upon  her  attentive  ear,  the 
strange  scene  awed  and  thrilled  her  and  she 
seemed  lifted  up  above  herself,  and  then,  some- 
how, she  felt  that  deep  longing — that  quenchless 
curiosity,  that  dauntless  inquiry  to  look  into  the 
unseen  world  beyond — a  world  of  eternal  light 
peopled  with  beautiful  and  radiant  beings.  The 
serene  repose  of  her  lovely  face  and  the  abstrac- 
tion of  her  look  told  that,  for  the  moment, 
she  was  lost  in  blissful  unconsciousness,  and  that 
the  solemnity  of  the  scene  had  strangely  wrought 
upon  her  feelings.  To  her — as  she  had  said  to 
Agnes — in  sunny  vividness  appeared  the  vision 
of  another  day^ — glorious,  grand,  triumphant — 


308  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    QR, 

the  Final  Judgment,  when  the  silent  graves  must 
give  up  their  long-sleeping  dead,  and  in  newness 
of  life  come  forth  to  appear  before  the  awful  tri- 
bunal of  the  Great  Judge,  who  proclaimed  to  all 
the  world  nearly  two  thousand  years  ago,  "  I  am 
the  resurrection  and  the  life." 

Suddenly  the  blended  sound  of  many  voices 
singing  the  Gloria  Excelsis  recalled  her  wander- 
ing thoughts  to  the  scene  about  her. 

Day  was  dawning,  and  in  the  eastern  sky  a 
soft,  amber  glow  was  spreading  itself  above  a 
long  dark  bank  of  purple  clouds,  which  soon 
paled  and  faded  out,  leaving  only  a  rosy  glow. 
Just  then  the  flashing  sunbeams  sparkled 
through  the  budding,  dew-laden  branches  of 
the  distant  forest.  Every  tree,  to  the  tips  of 
the  slender  twigs,  stood  out  in  a  blaze  of  glory. 

Overhead  the  cedar  branches,  giving  out  that 
mysterious  rustling  sound  peculiar  to  them,  bent 
in  long  graceful  curves,  and  when  the  soft  per- 
fumed breeze  swayed  their  green  plumage,  myr- 
iads of  crystal  drops  fell  from  them  and  jew- 
elled the  vine-covered  graves  beneath.  Flashing 
and  glittering  in  the  resplendent  glory,  the  King 
of  day,  slowly  but  triumphantly,  rose  above  the 
distant  tree-tops  just  as  the  beautiful  and  im- 
pressive service  came  to  an  end.  All  the  fair, 
shimmering  world  seemd  brightening  into  greater 
and  greater  loveliness,  Ruth  was  thinking,  when 
at  that  moment,  as  quietly  and  orderly  as  the 
vast  multitude  had  gathered,  the  long  procession 
rapidly  marshalled  into  line,  and  as  silently  and 
solemnly  wended  its  way  out  of  ' "  the  sacred  city 
of  the  dead  ' '  and  dispersed,  each  carrying  with 
him,  one  could  but  hope,  a  grateful  melody  of 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  309 

joy  and  love  in  his  heart  and  the  blessed  assur- 
ance, '•  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth." 

Carl,  Agnes  and  Ruth  made  no  motion  to  join 
or  follow  the  silent  procession  as  it  passed  out- 
side the  enclosure,  but  lingered  behind  as  many 
others  had  done  to  admire  the  floral  decorations 
and  enjoy  a  little  longer  the  cool  restfulness  and 
the  stillness  and  beauty  of  the  place. 

Relieved  of  the  deep  sense  of  awe  and  solem- 
nity which  had  held  them  for  the  last  hour,  they 
sauntered  up  and  do\vn  the  white-sanded  aisles 
amongst  the  graves,  admiring  the  beautiful  flow^- 
ers — for  gentle  hands  had  brought  the  fairest 
and  the  best — and  reading  the  epitaphs  on  the 
slabs — everyone  alike — at  the  head  of  the  graves. 
Many  of  the  little  square  tablets,  those  immedi- 
ately underneath  the  venerable  cedars,  were 
hoary  with  age,  and  so  weather-stained  that  the 
dates  and  names  of  the  silent  tenants  were  almost 
entirely  effaced. 

As  the  rosy  flush  of  morn  deepened,  there 
was  imparted  to  this  sacred  spot  of  rare  loveli- 
ness, a  beauty  indescribable,  and  the  golden 
gleam  of  light  which  filtered  dow^n  through  the 
lofty  dome  of  cedars  seemed  to  come  from  the 
very  gates  of  Paradise,  revealing  glimpses  far 
inward. 

In  their  walk  they  passed  an  elderly  lady 
dressed  in  heavy  mourning,  kneeling  beside  a 
freshly  turfed  mound  tenderly  arranging  some 
flowers  in  a  stone  vase.  Ruth  watched  her  a 
moment,  her  eyes  filling  with  sympathetic  tears, 
and  when  .they  had  gone  a  little  way  she  turned 
to  Agnes  and  said: 

"  Oh,  how  my  heart  goes  out  to  that  poor, 
grief-stricken  woman.     I  feel  as  if  I  want  to  go 


310  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

to  her,  and  try  to  comfort  her;  and  yet,  I  know 
there  is  but  One  that  can  do  that  in  an  hour  hke 
this. ' '  Then,  after  a  httle  pause,  ' '  Do  you 
know,  I  have  sometimes  thought  if  our  human 
ears  were  not  so  deaf,  or  perhaps,  if  we  could 
hush  the  loud  death-knell  tolling  in  our  hearts, 
over  the  new-made  grave  of  the  loved  one,  we 
might  hear  the  joy-bells  of  heaven  ringing  down- 
ward paens  of  victory  as  angel  fingers  held  the 
pearly  gates  ajar  for  a  ransomed  soul  to  enter." 

Agnes  did  not  answer,  but  she  strolled  on 
silently  until  they  had  reached  the  eastern  boun- 
dary of  the  graveyard  and  then  paused,  and, 
while  they  stood  talking  they  saw  Nellie  com- 
ing toward  them,  holding  by  the  hand  a  tall 
bright-eyed,  sweet-faced  lady  who  seemed  to  fol- 
low her  protestingly. 

"Cousin  Ruth  I  Cousin  Ruth!"  cried  Nellie, 
with  an  air  of  triumph  as  she  came  up,  "  here  is 
Miss  Lula.  I  heard  you  say  yesterday  you  wanted 
to  see  her  about  something — I  don't  know  what 
— but  I  saw  her  out  there."  she  turned  round 
describing  the  place  with  a  wave  of  her  hand. 
"  and  so  I  brought  her  to  see  you.  Now  you  can 
tell  her  what  you  want." 

Ruth  laughed  quietly,  and  after  greeting  the 
lady  cordially  and  making  some  excuses  for  Nel- 
lie's impetuosity,  she  turned  and  introduced  her 
to  Agnes  and  Carl  as  Miss  Lula  Hastings. 

"  I  have  met  Miss  Hastings  before,'"  said  Carl, 
"  but  it  was  several  years  ago  and  I  suppose  she 
has  forgotten  me.  I  am  very  happy  to  renew 
my  acquaintance  with  you.  Miss  Hastings,"  he 
added  gallantly,  still  holding  his  hat  in  his  hand. 

"  Thank  you. "  Then  they  talked  of  their  for- 
mer acquaintance  a  little,  finding  they  had  many 
friends  in  common,  and  then  Carl  said: 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  31 1 

"  We  were  just  debating,  when  you  came  up, 
Miss  Hastings,  whether  or  not  we  should  go  over 
to  Woodland  Cemetery  or  return  home. ' ' 

"  If  you  are  going  to  see  the  decorations,"  she 
said,  '•  I  think  you  will  see  them  at  their  best 
this  morning — before  the  sun  has  spoiled  them. 
They  are  handsomer  this  Easter  than  I  have  ever 
seen  them." 

''  Shall  we  go,  or  are  you  all  too  tired?"  he 
asked,  looking  significantly  at  Agnes. 

''  No,  no,  we  are  not  a  bit  tired.  Do  let's  go, 
Carl,"  implored  Nellie,  speaking  for  herself  and 
the  others,  "  I  am  just  crazy  to  go." 

Ruth  looked  inclined  to  demur,  but  Agnes 
said,  "  I  think  we  may  go  for  a  little  while.  It 
is  early  yet,  and  I  should  like  to  see  the  decora- 
tions, too.     What  time  is  it  ?  " 

Carl  took  out  his  watch,  sprung  back  the 
jewelled  hd,  and  bent  the  crystal  face  to  her 
gaze. 

"Just  seven  o'clock,"  she  said,  with  a  ques- 
tioning glance  at  Ruth. 

"  Oh,  yes,  we'll  have  plenty  of  time,"  she 
said,  ''  if  you  care  to  go.  But  we  mustn't  stay 
too  long.  We  must  get  back  in  time  to  attend 
service.  I  think  you  said  3^ou  wished  to  go  some- 
where to-day.  ■ ' 

"  Well,  it  is  entirely  as  you  two  shall  decide 
about  going  to  the  Cemetery, ' '  said  Carl,  replac- 
ing his  hat. 

' '  Go,  go, ' '  cried  Nellie,  clutching  him  by  the 
hand.     ''  Do  please  let's  go.  Carl." 

"Miss  Hastings,  will  3''ou  come  with  us?" 
Agnes  asked,  turning  to  her,  having  decided 
within  herself  that  they  would  go.  "  We  shall 
be  pleased  to  have  you. ' ' 


312  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


a 


Yes,  won't  you  come  ?"  Ruth  and  Carl  both 
added,  the  former  pleadingly. 

"  Thank  you.  It  is  very  kind  of  you,  but  I 
can't  go  this  morning;  I'm  afraid  I've  detained 
you  already,  but  Nellie  said  you  wished  to  ask 
me  something  special  " — looking  at  Ruth — "  and 
she  would  not  allow  me  to  escape  until  I  had 
seen  you." 

Nellie  gave  her  a  shy  look,  smiling. 

' '  It  is  nothing  so  very  important,  Miss  Lula, ' ' 
said  Ruth  pleasantly,  "  and  I  will  speak  with  you 
about  it  when  I  return  to  the  Academy  on 
Tuesday." 

"  Very  well.  Now  I  will  wish  you  good- 
morning.  ' '  She  bowed  to  them  and  turned  to 
leave,  when  Carl  said : 

' '  Please  allow  me  to  accompany  you.  Miss 
Hastings,  as  far  as  our  way  leads  together.  I 
shall  have  to  see  our  driver,  who  is  waiting  near 
the  Square,  and  tell  him  to  come  for  us  at  the 
Cemetery.  If  you  will  excuse  me" — to  Agnes 
and  Ruth — ''I'll  not  keep  you  waiting  long." 
As  soon  as  they  were  out  of  sight  Agnes  turned 
to  Ruth  and  asked : 

"  Who  is  your  friend  Miss  Hastings  " 

' '  She  is  a  very  charming  and  admirable  young 
lady  who  was  formerly  a  pupil  at  the  Academy, 
but  now  teaches  there,  and  also  lives  in  this  city. 
She  is  a  most  practicable,  sensible  girl,  and  I  be- 
lieve everybody  loves  her." 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  said  Agnes.  "  She  has 
agreeable  manners,  and  a  very  sweet  and  attrac- 
tive face — and  one's  face,  as  a  rule,  I  believe,  is 
quite  a  correct  index  to  one's  character.  We 
generally  judge  by  what  we  see— don't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  oftener  than  I  should,"  she  said  hesita- 
tingly, ' '  for  outward  appearances  are  sometimes 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  313 

deceptive,  misleading,  and  the  rule  of  judging 
people  and  things  by  just  what  we  see  is  by  no 
means  infallible.  But  come,  let  us  get  out  of 
this  sunshine.  We  can  wait  for  Carl  under  those 
trees  yonder.  I  think  it  would  have  been  wise 
in  us  if  we  had  brought  our  parasols. ' ' 

When  they  had  reached  the  group  of  trees  in- 
dicated, they  stood  silent  a  moment  looking 
about  them. 

''This  place  is  exquisitely  beautiful,"  said 
Agnes,  "  and  I  wonder  some  poet  doesn't  cele- 
brate it  in  verse. ' ' 

"■  So  one  poet  has — Mr.  John  Henry  Boner,  a 
native  of  this  town,  but  now  a  well-known  poet 
and  literary  writer  of  New  York  City.  He  has 
written  some  beautiful  lines  entitled,  '  How  oft 
I've  trod  that  shadowy  way, '  and  I  will  show 
them  to  you  sometime.  I  have  them  in  my  scrap- 
book.  I  know  several  of  the  verses  and  will  re- 
peat them  to  you  if  you  wish  me.  You  may 
appreciate  them  more  by  hearing  them  on  or 
near  the  spot  about  which  they  were  written." 

"  Please  do,  and  I  will  follow  you  as  you  recite 
them." 

Then  Ruth  repeated,  very  low  and  sweetly, 
several  of  the  verses  of  that  little  gem  from  Mr. 
Boner's  gifted  pen,  which  are  as  follows: 

.  "Full  many  a  peaceful  place  I've  seen, 
But  the  most  restful  spot  I  know 
Is  one  where  thick  dark  cedars  grow 
In  an  old  graveyard  cool  and  green. 

The  way  to  the  sequestered  f>lace 
Is  arched  with  boughs  of  that  sad  tree. 
And  there  the  trivial  steps  of  glee 

Must  sober  to  a  pensive  pace. 

How  oft  I've  trod  that  shadowy  Avay 
In  bygone  years — sometimes  while  yet 
The  grass  with  morning  dew  was  wet 
21        And  sometimes  at  the  close  of  day." 


314  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Just  then  Carl  returned,  walking  briskly,  his 
face  flushed. 

"  Well,  I'm  back  again,''  he  said,  taking  off 
his  hat  and  running  his  fingers  through  his  hair. 

''  I  sent  Virgil  round  with  the  carriage,  and 
he'll  wait  for  us  at  the  upper  gate  of  the  ceme- 
tery. I  think  we'll  need  fans  and  parasols  be- 
fore we  get  back." 

"  And  the  idea  of  mamma  insisting  on  my 
bringing  a  wrap,"  said  Agnes;  "I  knew  I 
shouldn't  need  it." 

They  turned  to  the  left,  leaving  the  beautiful 
Moravian  graveyard  behijid  them,  and  went 
along  a  lonely  winding  walk  which  swerved 
downward  and  then  swept  gracefully  upward 
around  a  deep  ravine,  filled  with  tangled  vine, 
primeval  undergrowth  and  tall  trees  whose  uq- 
pruned  branches  had  begun  to  thrill  and  expand 
under  the  renewal  of  the  forces  of  nature.  And 
down  in  the  sheltered  depths  of  the  ravine  where 
the  wind  of  centuries  had  held  their  tryst, 
amongst  the  beautiful  and  sweet  freshness,  the 
gurgling  of  a  hidden  stream  made  a  musical  stir 
which  was  borne  out  on  the  budding  fragrance 
of  the  spring  air.  There  was  a  rustle,  and  sud- 
denly a  gray  squirrel  raced  over  the  brown  leaves, 
ran  up  a  tall  tree,  and  disappeared.  To  the  left 
a  narrow  pathway,  seemingly  but  little  used,  led 
up  the  hillside  to  a  clump  of  stunted  cedars, 
where  a  few  white  slabs  were  sharply  defined 
against  their  evergreen  foliage. 

"There  is  the  strangers'  burying-ground, " 
said  Carl,  making  a  quick  gesture  with  his  hand 
as  they  passed  it.     "  It  is  a  lonely  spot." 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  315 

"Yes,  it  looks  neglected  and  ghost-like 
enough,"  returned  Ruth.  "  Indeed,  one  of  the 
most  painful  things  to  me  is  to  think  how  soon 
we  are  forgotten  after  we  are  dead.  Compara- 
tively so  few  live  in  the  hearts  or  memory  of  the 
world  and  sometimes  of  their  friends,  after  they 
have  passed  off  the  stage  of  life.  Only  those — 
the  few  it  seems  that  have  found  the  way  to 
peace  and  rest  and  fullness  of  being  along  the 
path  of  service.  But  if  we  can  truthfully  echo 
the  sentiment  of  Paracelsus,  who  as  he  dies  ex- 
claims, 

'  I  press  God's  lamp  close  to  my  breast;  its  splendor  soon 
or  late, 
Will  pierce  the  gloom:  I  shall  emerge  one  day,' 

perhaps  we  should  be  willing  to  die,  content  to 
be  forgotten  even  by  those  we  love  best." 

"I  doa't  know,"  said  Carl  skeptically;  "I 
think  I  should  like  to  be  remembered  always — 
as  long  as  the  great  laws  of  life  and  death  and 
fate  are  not  suspended.  Somehow,  I  can't  help 
wishing  to  perpteuate  my  name — my  memory, 
'  adown  the  centuries  of  coming  years.'  " 

' '  Then  you  would  better  be  up  and  doing, 
young  man,"  laughed  Agnes,  laying  her  hand 
playfully  on  his  arm,  "  and  with  your  spotless 
reputation  and  good  name  to  start  with,  carve 
for  youself  an  enduring  name  in  the  Temple  of 
Fame,  and  though  '  Fame  is  smoke,'  '  Its  fumes 
are  frankincense  to  human  thoughts,'  so  says 
Byron.  Nothing  is  impossible  to  him  who  wills, 
you  know.  One's  desires  are  often  the  precur- 
sors of  the  things  which  one  is  capable  of  per- 
forming, and  an  intense  anticipation  cf  them 
transforms  possibility  into  reality.  Don't  you 
think  so  ?     You  may  have  to  wait,  perhaps,  for 


316  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

half  a  century  before  winning  the  admiring 
plaudits  of  mankind,  but  then  just  think  of  the 
numbers  of  great  men  who  toiled  and  struggled 
on  in  obscurity  for  years,  full  five,  i^erhaps  six, 
decades  before  the  world  ever  heard  of  them. 
Yes,  your  time,  too,  may  come,  and  before  your 
hair  is  silvered  with  age.  Just  consider  yourself 
amply  sufficient  for  the  deed  you  undertake,  and 
you  will  certainly  succeed." 

Carl  stopped  and  looked  at  her,  his  face  aglow 
with  the  emotion  which  Agnes'  enthusiasm  had 
kindled  in  him. 

"  That  was  sweet  and  brave  of  you,  little  Cous- 
in, ' '  he  said,  smiling  dovv^n  into  her  bright  eyes. 
••'  I  really  didn't  know  you  had  such  a  good  opin- 
ion of  me — that  you  cared  so  much.  You  have 
made  me  think  better  of  myself  already,  and — " 
he  paused,  then  added  with  vindicative  empha- 
sis— "  and  others  shall  think  better  of  me,  too. 
You  are  aware  that  mother  was  anxious  that  I 
should  enter  the  ministry ;  but  feeling  I  wasn't 
called  to  '  hammer  the  sacred  desk, '  and  was  not 
that  way  inclined,  she  left  it  to  me  to  consult 
my  own  individual  bent  and  choose  for  myself, 
and  of  the  '  three  black  graces  ' — Law,  Medicine 
and  Ministry — I  have  chosen  medicine,  and  since 
the  pursuit  is  voluntary  and  I  have  a  distinctive 
taste  for  that  profession,  I  feel  that  I  shall  suc- 
ceed." 

"And  what  does  Cousin  Ralph  say  to  the  career 
you  have  chosen  ?  ''  she  asked,  reflectively. 

"  Oh,  he  is  perfectly  satisfied.  Before  I  went 
abroad,  I  asked  him  one  day  what  profession  he 
thought  best  for  me  to  follow — for  I  was  anxious 
to  please  him,  too,  in  this— and  his  reply  was, 
'  whatever  you  have  a  taste  and  capacity  for;  if 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  317 

it's  making  brick,  why  make  brick.  I  prefer  that 
you  should  be  entirely  uninfluenced  by  even  a 
suggestion  from  me,  and  I  believe  you  will  be 
more  apt  to  choose  unerringly. '  Those  were  his 
words,  and  I  haven't  forgotten  them.  Of  course, 
he  doesn't  claim  that  free  choice  and  purpose  are 
proof  infallible  against  failure,  but  he  says 
that  failure  is  less  likely  to  occur  if  one  selects  a 
calling  that  is  not  distasteful  to  him." 

"  Well,  I  earnestly  hope  you  have  chosen  for 
the  best,  and  I  do  believe  you  have.  I  can't  help 
thinking  that  some  people  are  a  failure  incarnate 
from  first  to  last,  but  you  don't  happen  to  be 
one  of  them.  Now,  I  don't  say  this  to  flatter,  or 
please  you.  but  simply  because  I  believe  it." 

"I  assure  you,  Agnes,"  he  said,  "from  this 
time  forth  I  sliall  try  h  arder  than  ever  to  deserve 
your  good  opinion,  and  do  my  best  to  make, 
if  not  a  brilliant,  at  least  an  honorable  career. ' " 

"  All  right;  I'll  remember  this,  and  it  is  a 
promise  from  which  I  shall  not  release  you,  and 
when  you  have  reached  the  goal,  I  will  see  that 
you  have  your  totem  pole,  lofty  and  elaborate, 
to  commemorate  your  noble  deeds, "  she  laughed. 
"  But  honestly,  Carl,  I  think  there  is  something 
grand  and  noble  in  one's  carving  his  own  for- 
tune, and  rising  higher  and  higher  in  the  scales 
of  usefulness  and  human  knowledge,  in  defiance 
of  every  obstacle.  I  am  perfectly  in  sympathy 
with  this  pretty  sentiment  of  the  poet : 

"  Whoever  with  an  earnest  soul 

Strives  for  some  end,  from  this  low  world  afar 
Still  upward  travels  though  he  miss  the  goal 
And  strays — but  travels  toward  a  star!" 

But  you,  Carl — why  you  have  nothing  to  hin- 
der you,   for  surely  the  gods  and  good  fortune 


818  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

have  made  the  way  wide  oj)en  to  you,  so  there 
is  no  reason  why  you  should  fail. ' ' 

' '  Yes,  but  I  must  climb,  step  by  step  like  any 
other  plodder  if  I  would  win,"  he  said. 

"  True;  but  you  will  not  have  to  contend  with 
that  curse — the  most  barren  of  all  to  a  struggling 
soul — the  curse  of  want  of  money  to  smooth 
your  way.  Think  of  the  thousands  of  bright  in- 
tellects so  fettered,  thousands  filled  with  noble 
and  lofty  aspirations,  longing  so  eagerly  to  reach 
a  higher  level,  and  yet  the  stern  necessity  of 
earning  a  brief  existence  keeps  them  too  busy  to 
devote  to  the  beloved  aspiration  of  their  lives.  I 
think  what  heights  that  sweet  poet,  Sydney 
Lanier,  whose  life  was  so  full  of  promise,  might 
have  reached,  even  with  ill  health,  had  he  not 
been  hedged  in  for  the  lack  of  gold  to  smooth 
his  way.  Oh,  cruel,  cruel  fortune,  why  curse 
some — often  the  worthy  and  brave — and  heap 
high  favors  upon  others  w^ho  squander  them  in 
the  whirlpool  of  idle  pleasures?"  She  sighed  a 
little,  then  walked  on  in  silence. 

They  had  leisurely  ascended  the  hill  by  the 
winding  driveway  which  led  up  to  the  cemetery, 
and  now  came  to  a  double  vault  in  a  steep  hill- 
side. The  vault  had  a  frontage  of  stone  and 
granite,  and  the  heavy  iron  doors  were  securely 
fastened.  An  ornamental  iron  raihng  ran  along 
three  sides  of  the  flat  brick  roof,  and  some  cone- 
shaped  cedars  had  sprung  up  betw^een  clefts  in 
the  roof.  Between  two  of  these,  and  immedi- 
ately over  the  door  of  the  stone  vault,  stood  a 
life-sized  marble  figaire,  representing  Hope,  one 
baud  pointing  heavenward,  the  other  resting  on 
an  anchor  at  her  side.  There  was  a  sweet  look 
of  mute  appeal  in  the  calm  uplifted  face  as  if  it 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  319 

held  the  connecting  Hnk  between  the  mysterious 
Beyond  and  the  crumbhng  framework  of  human- 
ity engulfed  in  the  awful  silence  of  the  tomb  be- 
neath. Luxuriant  ivy  clung  about  the  sombre 
looking  front,  and  a  few  tendrils  strayed  down- 
ward and  mixed  its  dark  green  foliage  with  the 
tender  green  of  the  periwinkle  sparely  sprinkled 
Avith  pale  blue  blossoms. 

It  was  such  a  quaint  looking  place  that  the 
little  party  stopped  and  stood  impressively  silent 
a  moment,  regarding  it. 

Agnes  pressed  her  hand  to  her  heart  and  shiv- 
ered, "Oh,  if  we  could  escape  all  this,"  she  said. 
' '  Death,  I  mean.  Why  must  we  die  ?  It  seems 
so  hard!" 

' '  Let  me  remind  you  of  a  quotation  from  that 
marvellous  production  of  Browning's  Paracelsus 
from  which  Ruth  quoted  just  now — where  Fes- 
tus  trys  to  console  his  friend — perhaps  it  may 
console  or  comfort  you,"  said  Carl,  with  an  in- 
voluntary softening  of  his  voice. 

"  What  is  it?  "  she  asked,  almost  plaintively. 

•"  He  says,  '  No  man  man  must  hope  for  ex- 
emption from  trial ;  that  to  be  mortal  is  to  be  plied 
with  trials  manifold.  It  is  our  trust, '  he  goes 
on  to  say,  '  that  there  is  yet  another  world  to 
mend  all  error  and  mischance,  but  here  it  seems 
that  everyone  needs  trials  to  keep  his  soul  from 
going  to  sleep,  as  a  traveler  in  the  snow  needs 
shaking  lest  he  fall  and  die.'  " 

Agnes  did  not  attempt  to  answer  him,  but  after 
a  moment's  silence,  Ruth  said : 

"  It  is  a  great  comfort,  I  think,  to  know  that 
the  infancy  only  of  the  soul  is  spent  on  earth. 
Drummond  says  that  earth  is  the  rehearsal  for 
heaven.     That  the  eternal  beyond  is  the  eternal 


320  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

here:  and  the  street  hfe,  the  home  hfe,  the  busi- 
ness hfe,  the  city  hfe,  in  aU  the  varied  range  of 
its  activity,  are  an  apprenticeship  for  the  city  of 
God.  There  is  no  other  apprenticeship.  To 
know  how  to  serve  Christ  in  these  is  to  practice 
dying.  So  this  hfe  is  merely  proving  what  sort 
of  souls  we  have.  To  me  this  is  a  most  comfort- 
ing belief. ' '  Then,  looking  at  Carl,  she  asked : 
' '  Was  it  not  Paracelsus  who  said,  '  I  go  to  prove 
my  soul  ?  '  And  that's  what  we  are  doing  now.'" 

' '  Yes ;  but  Paracelsus  believed  that  the  hu- 
man heart  was  formed  to  hate  rather  than  to 
love,  until  God  taught  him  in  the  very  throes  of 
death  that  power  without  love  would  be  hell. 
His  friend,  Festus,  who  was  willing  to  sacrifice 
so  much  for  him — even  to  waive  all  future  re- 
ward— saw  some  things  more  clearly  than  did 
Paracelsus."  His  tone  was  deeply  reverential, 
as  was  always  the  case  when  he  spoke  of  sacred 
things  and  the  dead. 

"•  I  am  afraid  there  are  too  many  of  us,  even  as 
was  Paracelsus  before  God  taught  him  his  error — 
pride  of  soul,  longing  for  power,  despising 
the  common  run  of  men  and  thus  unconsciously 
separating  ourselves  from  God,"  replied  Ruth, 
her  tone  touched  with  sadness.  "  God  is  teach- 
ing us  all — poor,  slow-paced  scholars  as  w^e  are- 
like  He  taught  Paracelsus,  not  in  the  way  we 
are  seeking,  but  as  His  j^rovidence  sees  fitting; 
and  it  is  a  pity  that  we  cannot  see  the  hand  of 
God  all  along  the  present,  trust  the  future  to 
Him  and  thus  find  peace. " "  A  softer  Ught  came 
into  her  eyes  as  she  went  on,  and  her  voice  was 
suddenly  tremulous  with  a  pathos  she  could  not 
repress. 

At  that  moment  she  happened  to  look  up  at 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  321 

Carl,  and  something  in  his  face — she  knew  not 
what  it  was;  some  inward  struggle,  she  fancied, 
to  conquer  a  strange  agitation  which  for  the  mo- 
ment seemed  to  absorb  his  very  soul — made  her 
withdraw  her  eyes  from  his  searching  gaze,  but 
in  spite  of  herself  a  soft  glow  stole  into  her  cheek, 
though  she  showed  not  the  least  sign  of  embar- 
rassment. The  next  moment  he  came  closer  to 
her,  and  stood  for  a  moment  as  if  trying  to  for- 
mulate his  thoughts  into  speech,  then,  with  the 
courteous,  winning  manner  so  natural  to  him, 
he  took  her  hand  and  drew  it  through  his  arm. 
and  with  a  sudden  change  of  tone  said,  ''  Come, 
let  us  follow  Agnes  and  Nellie  up  to  the  ceme- 
ter}^,  and  allow^  me  to  assist  you  up  that  hill, '^ 
nodding  in  the  direction. 

Ruth  glanced  hurriedly  around. 

"  Oh,  I  didn't  know  they  had  left  as.  How 
long  ago  ?  " 

''About  five  minutes.'' 

"  Yes,  let  us  follow  them.  But,  thank  you,  I 
can  clinib  that  little  hill  without  the  least  assis- 
tance,"  she  said,  disengaging  her  hand  from  his 
arm. 

And  then  they  walked  on  in  silence,  side  by 
side,  up  the  winding  ascent. 

They  had  no  sooner  reached  the  cemetery 
grounds  proper,  than  they  perceived  Agnes  stand- 
ing tiptoed  beside  a  small  square  enclosure, 
peering  over  the  low  picket  fence  and  trying  to 
read  the  accentuated  letters  on  a  discolored 
gravestone  within.  Careful  hands  had  recently 
removed  the  infringing  grass  and  weeds,  and  pro- 
fusely scattered  sweet  spring  flowers  over  the 
smooth  green  turf.  The  sound  of  footsteps  be- 
hind her  made  her  turn  and  look  round. 


322  UNDER   C40LDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


li 


Oh,  is  that  you  two?"  she  laughed  rogu- 
ishly. ''  I've  just  been  singing,  '  Come  ye  dis- 
consolate.' " 

"  Why  did  you  and  Nellie  slip  off  and  leave 
us  ?  "  Ruth  asked,  with  smiling  reproach,  ''You 
vanished  like  ghosts,  and  I  didn't  know  you  had 
gone  until  Carl  told  me.  But  where  is  Nellie  ?" 
she  asked,  glancing  uneasily  about.  "  Mrs.  Gray- 
son particularly  charged  me  not  to  lose  sight  of 
her,  or  to  let  her  get  away  from  me, ' ' 

■'And  now  you've  done  both,"  laughed  Agnes. 
' '  But  the  idea  of  any  one  trying  to  keep  up  with 
Nell — "  Agnes  continued,  still  peering  over  the 
enclosure  and  trying  to  make  out  the  inscription 
on  the  weather-stained  slab.  "  She  was  here  a 
minute  ago  picking  some  of  those  wild  dasies  and 
violets  over  there, '"  pointing  to  the  spot,  "and 
said  she  was  gathering  them  to  put  on  her  little 
sisters'  grave,  and  I  suppose  there  is  where  she 


IS  now." 


"Nell's  all  right,"  said  Carl  readily,  as  they 
moved  a  few  paces  further  on,  and  with  one  im- 
pulse all  three  stopped  to  look  at  a  tall,  massive 
monument  of  gray  granite,  and  Carl  read  aloud 
the  names,  ' '  Louise  and  Mary, ' '  carved  on  the 
beautiful  polished  surface  of  the  shaft, 

' '  Handsome  and  imposing, ' '  said  Agnes ;  "  I 
like  it," 

"  Yes,  that  is  one  of  the  handsomest  monu- 
ments in  the  cemetery,"  he  said.  "There  is 
another,  very  beautiful  and  elegant,  further  on, 
and  we'll  come  to  it  presently.  It  is  the  hand- 
somest one  in  the  grounds.  It  was  cut  in  Massa 
Carrasa,  Italy,  by  Professor  Pietro  Barsanti. ' ' 
.  "Is  that  really  true  ?"  she  asked  dubiously. 
"  Dear,  sweet  Italv.  how  I  am  carried  back  to 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  323 

beautiful  Sarrento  —  that  perfect  paradise  of 
beauty  where  we  had  such  a  lovely  time  last 
summer.  Come  and  show  me,  and  let  me  look 
upon  something  that  is  from  the  sunny  land  for 
which  I  cherish  sucli  a  fondness.  Whereabout 
is  it?" 

' '  Have  a  little  more  patience,  Agnes, ' '  said 
Ruth,  smiling,  and  taking  her  by  the  arm,  drew 
her  back  as  she  started  off.  "  We'll  come  to  it 
in  due  time.  There  is  another  place — in  fact, 
two  of  them — I  Avant  you  to  see,  and  they  are  on 
our  way  to  the  Barsanti  monument." 

"  Pray,  why  so  particular  about  my  seeing  the 
two  you  mention,  darling?"  she  asked,  turning 
round,  her  face  assuming  an  interested  look. 

"  Because  there  is  such  a  pathetic  story  con- 
nected with  the  hves  of  the  two  young  girls 
whose  graves  I  want  you  to  visit  with  me. 
Although  I  did  not  know  them  personally,  yet  I 
never  come  here  that  I  do  not  go  to  their  graves. 
Sometimes  I  take  flowers,  and  I'm  sorry  I  haven't 
any  with  me  this  morning;  but  I  know  they 
have  been  generously  remembered  by  their 
friends. ' ' 

"  But  what  is  the  story  ?  Go  on  and  tell  me.'' 

' '  It  is  a  very  sad  one, ' '  said  Ruth,  ' '  and  the 
singular  coincident  of  their  deaths  makes  the 
story  peculiarly  pathetic  and  impressive. ' ' 

When  Ruth  had  finished  the  recital  she  looked 
at  Agnes,  whose  face  was  full  of  a  strange  sol- 
emn light — but  all  she  said  was : 

"Oh,  how  sad  I"  She  could  not  say  more, 
for  her  eyes  had  melted  and  her  mouth  quivered, 
then  a  look  of  peculiar  tenderness  came  into  her 
sympathetic  face. 

They  walked  on  silently,  listening  to  the  birds 


324  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

singing  their  Easter  anthems  in  softened  tones 
from  the  tall  trees  now  greening  with  life,  in- 
haling the  sweet  scent  of  the  flowers,  pausing 
now  and  again  to  read  an  inscription  on  a  stately 
shaft,  or  some  modest  slab,  and  quietly  enjoying 
the  sunny  glisten  and  unspeakable  serenity 
which  fdled  the  beautiful  scene.  It  was  one  of 
Spring's  loveliest  days. 

In  the  silence  that  followed,  they  had  reached 
a  velvety  green  square,  on  the  slightly-sloping 
crest  of  the  hill,  and  in  one  corner  of  which  was 
a  solitary  grave,  marked  by  a  simple  but  pretty 
shaft  delicately  carven  on  the  four  sides  in 
crowns  and  palm  leaves,  while  there  was  a  grace- 
ful wreath  of  ivy  leaves  running  around  the 
capstone. 

"This  is  Miss  Farions'  grave,"  said  Ruth; 
"  and  Miss  Marsden's  is  a  little  further  on  to  the 
left.  Both  the  shafts  are  exactly  alike,  the  only 
difference  being  in  the  inscription;  and  both 
were  placed  in  position  about  the  same  time.'" 

Noticing  that  one  of  the  Easter  lilies  had  fal- 
len from  the  little  marble  urn  at  the  foot  of  the 
grave,  she  stooped  and  replaced  it,  then  tenderly 
rearranged  some  of  the  thirsty  flowers  and  placed 
them  so  the  stems  might  reach  the  water  in  the 
ha:f -filled  vase.  She  looked  very  beautiful  kneel- 
ing there,  i^gnes  and  Carl  both  thought — in  the 
midst  of  the  wide  peace  and  sylvan  beauty  all 
about  them.  When  she  got  up  and  stood  beside 
Agnes,  she  said  in  a  low,  wavering  voice : 

"It  is  such  a  blessed  hope  we  have,  such  a 
comforting  privilege  to  know  that  those  who 
live  in  the  Lord  do  not  see  each  other  for  the 
last  time." 

They  passed  on,  meeting  several  groups  of 
people  strolling  about  the  grounds. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  325 

' '  There  is  the  Barsanti  monument,  Agnes, ' ' 
said  Carl,  for  they  had  reached  it  while  they 
were  talking.  "What  do  you  think  of  it?" 
She  held  up  her  gray-gloved  hand  to  shade  her 
eyes,  looked  critically  up  at  the  exquisite  female 
figure  gracefully  poised  upon  the  three-cornered 
pedestal,  then  walked  slowly  around  it. 

"  It  is  very  beautiful,  indeed, ' '  she  said,  after 
a  few  seconds'  pause.  "The  folds  of  the  drapery 
are  simply  perfect — and  the  face,  isn't  it  lovely! 
So  suggestive  of  inward  peace  and  contentment 
— and  repose — yes,  that's  the  word,  repose.  One 
can  easily  fancy,  too,  that  the  rose  she  is  holding 
has  life  and  fragrance,  it  is  so  natural. 

They  lingered  here  a  few  minutes  longer;  then 
strolled  on  to  the  spot  where  Carl's  father  and 
sisters  were  interred — a  quiet,  lovely  place  and 
just  now  full  of  silent  rays  of  golden  light,  fall- 
ing through  the  overcresting  branches  of  the 
trees  and  checkering  the  white  marble  slabs  be- 
neath. 

' '  I  wonder  where  Nellie  has  gone, ' '  said  Ruth ; 
' '  I  see  she  has  been  here, ' '  looking  down  at  the 
flowers.  "  She  is  like  a  bird — just  goes  here  and 
there  wherever  her  fancy  takes  her.  I  don't 
believe  she  knows  the  meaning  of  such  a  thing 
as  fear. ' ' 

"  I  will  walk  with  you  and  Agnes  to  the  car- 
riage," said  Carl,  "then  I'll  look  for  her.  I 
don't  think  she  can  be  very  far." 

"No  need  to  do  that,"  said  Agnes.  "There 
she  is  now."  As  she  spoke,  Nellie  came  running 
toward  them,  holding  up  both  hands,  as  if  she 
meant  to  embrace  them.  "  Where  have  you 
been,  you  little  sinner?"  Agnes  continued. 
"  Your  Cousin  Ruth  has  been  in  a  perfect  ache 
about  you." 


326  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Where  have  you  all  been,  you'd  better  say," 
Nellie  pouted,  quite  out  of  breath.  "  I've  been 
all  over  the  cemetery,  and  I  never  saw  any  of  you 
once,  I  believe  everybody  has  gone  home  but 
us,  and  I'm  ready  to  go  now,  for  I'm  awfully 
hungry. ' ' 

"  Very  likely,"  said  Carl  dryly.  "  Come,  we 
are  going  home  now.  You  don't  mind  you'll  be 
late  for  Sunday  School  again." 

''  Can't  help  it,"  she  returned,  and  then  she 
broke  away  from  them,  and  when  they  reached 
the  carriage  NeUie  had  got  in,  taken  off  her 
hat  and  was  fanning  herself  vigorously.  She 
smiled  and  yawned  drowsily  in  reply  to  some 
bantering  remark  Agnes  addressed  to  her,  and 
during  the  drive  homeward  sat  so  mute  and  still 
they  thought  she  had  gone  to  sleep. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glenwood  attended  pretty  St. 
Paul's  that  morning,  but  Agnes  accompanied 
the  other  members  of  the  family  to  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  which  they  reached  just 
as  the  last  reverberation  of  the  church  bells  in 
the  vicinity  died  upon  the  air. 

A  moment  later,  as  they  walked  slowly  down 
the  soft  carpeted  aisle  of  the  church,  the  deep 
trembling  notes  of  the  organ  broke  the  stillness 
and  the  choir  began  singing  the  joyous  message, 
the  key-note  of  all.  *'  Christ  is  risen  from  the 
dead;  "  and  the  peahng  anthem,  as  it  burst  from 
the  swelling  organ  tone,  interwoven  with  the 
pure  rich  notes  of  the  human  voice,  ascended 
with  the  perfume  of  the  flowers,  filling  the  beau- 
tiful room  with  a  flood  of  sweet  melody. 

Through  the  rich  hues  of  amber,  violet,  ruby 
and  gold  of  the  stained  gothic  windows,  the  sun 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  327 

shone,  and  flung  radiant   colors  over  the  quiet 
subdued-toned  sanctuary. 

Nellie  had  remained  after  the  Sunday  School 
exercises  were  over  to  attend  the  morning  ser- 
vice, and  was  already  in  her  uncle's  pew  when 
he,  with  the  other  members  of  the  family,  en- 
tered. 

She  rose  at  once,  smiled,  and  moved  to  the 
f  urtherest  end  of  the  semicii'cular  seats  and  took 
the  remaining  unoccupied  chair,  after  the  others 
were  seated.  All  through  the  service  she  sat  verv 
demure  and  silent,  now  and  then  exchanging 
cautious  glances  with  some  of  her  little  Sunday 
School  companions  who  occupied  the  seats  im- 
modiately  in  front  of  her,  each  one  wearing  a 
certain  sober  church-going  air  which  the  older 
people  about  them  affected. 

Occasionally  an  aureole  of  violet  light  played 
over  Nellie's  golden  curly  head  and  fac«',  and 
made  her  look  like  some  beautiful  apparition 
that  might  vanish  at  any  moment. 

Everyone  present  seemed  to  follow  with  a 
hushed  and  solemn  expectancy  the  words  of  the 
eloquent  preacher  from  text  unto  conclusion 
with  the  most  rapt  and  absorbing  devotion. 

When  he  had  resumed  his  seat,  there  was  an 
audible  stir,  a  movement,  a  rustle  in  each  pew, 
as  if  the  occupant  wished  to  convey  through  his 
eyes  and  manner  his  approval  and  delight  to  as 
many  of  the  people  about  him  as  possible.  There 
were  moist  eyes  and  tremulous  lips,  too;  and 
after  the  doxology  was  sung  and  the  benediction 
which  came  after  was  over,  the  congregation 
quietly  dispersed  to  the  sound  of  triumphant  mu- 
sic, while  the  spirit  of  sweet  peace  which  had 
stolen  into  the  hearts  of  every  listener  as  he  sat 


328  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

in  the  sacred  sanctuary,  beneath  the  exquisite 
harmony  of  the  music,  and  the  matchless  elo- 
quence of  the  minister,  lingered  many  a  day 
with  him;  and,  then  in  soft  sweet  echoes,  it 
seemed  to  melt  and  sink  down  into  his  very  soul, 
enriching  it,  and  chiming  continually  the  hope 
of  a  more  perfect  day. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  329 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


About  two  weeks  after  Easter,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gordon  gave  a  magnificent  reception  in  honor  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glenwood  and  their  daughter 
Agnes;  and  while  it  was  one  of  the  many  bril- 
liant fetes  which  they  had  attended,  and  which 
had  been  given  by  their  former  friends  in  their 
honor,  yet  no  social  event  had  happened  in  the 
city  for  quite  a  long  time  that  caused  such  a  stir 
and  ripple  of  excitement,  and  that  was  looked 
forward  to  with  such  pleasurable  anxiety. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  Mrs. 
Gordon "s  reception — a  day  that  had  dawned 
bright  and  beautiful — and  Agnes  and  Carl  were 
in  the  sitting-room,  the  latter  reclining  upon  a 
low,  luxurious  divan  with  all  the  ease  and 
abandon  of  an  Indian  Rajah  or  Persian  Lord, 
while  Agnes  read  to  him  with  apparently  absorb- 
iug  interest.  But  presently,  with  a  sudden  im- 
[)ulse,  she  closed  the  book  and  laid  it  down. 

"There  I  I'll  not  read  another  line, "  she  said. 
"  I've  read  long  enough,  and  besides  I  don't  be- 
lieve you  are  listening,  anyway."  Then,  eyeing 
him  with  a  mocking  smile,  she  added : 

''  What  a  voluptuary  you  are,  Carl.  I  wonder 
some  good  magician  don't  transport  you  to  the 
Oriental  realms  and  transform  you  into  a  verita- 
ble prince,  and  while  you  lounge  under  silken 
canopies  listening  to  delicious  music  and  watching 
the  graceful  movements  of  your  dancing  slaves, 
study  to  your  heart's  content  the  incomparable 
pleasures  of  an  ideal  idleness. ' ' 

He  half  raised  himself  from  the  couch,  and 


22 


330  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

supporting  his  handsome  head  upon  one  out- 
spread pahn,  turned  his  smihng  face  toward  her. 

"  When  the  gracious  gods,  or  your  good  magi- 
cian, accord  to  me  such  a  happy  fate,  I  shah 
choose  you,  my  pretty  cousin,  as  one  of  the  hon- 
ored maids  to  hold  the  silken  canopy  above  my 
royal  head,  or  wave  the  cooling  palm  to  refresh 
me,''  he  laughed.  "  You  know  the  old  saying 
that  goes,  '  Best  ease  is  free  ease  ■ — and  that's 
what  I  am  enjoying  now." 

"  I'm  afraid  you'd  find  your  labor  and  pains 
thrown  away,"  she  laughed  back,  her  own  atti- 
tude full  of  light  grace  and  ease.  ''  Besides,  you 
should  remember  vivre  ce  vie'  est  pas  respirer, 
c''est  agir.''^ 

"  Oh,  never  fear.  I  have  already  betaken  my- 
self to  w^orks  of  serious  reflection,"  he  said, 
rising. 

Before  she  could  reply  the  door  ojjened,  and 
Mrs.  Glenwood,  with  stately  dignity  and  a  smile 
on  her  cold,  proud  face,  entered  the  room,  and 
glancing  around  to  assure  herself  there  were  no 
visitors  present,  said,  turning  to  Agnes: 

"  I  came,  my  dear,  to  consult  with  you  about 
your  dress  for  Mrs.  Gordon's  reception  this  even- 
ing.    Have  you  decided  what  you  shall  wear  ?  ' ' 

"  Not  yet,  Mamma.  Adele  has  taken  several 
evening  dresses  to  my  room  for  me  to  select  from, 
but  I  left  it  with  her  to  decide  which  it  shall  be.  * ' 

"  Suppose  you  let  me  decide  the  momentous 
question  for  you.  Cousin,"  said  Carl,  laughing. 
While  I'm  not  an  authoiity  in  such  matters,  since 
1  do  not  keep  myself  informed  as  to  the  latest 
ukases  of  feminine  attire,  but  I'm  said  to  have 
at  least  first-rate  taste  with  regard  to  a  woman's 
get  up — that  is.  the  general  effect  her  presence 


IN   THE    XEW    ELDOKADO.  831 

produces,  whether  or  not  it  is  pleasing  and  ar- 
tistic." 

As  Agnes  listened  to  him,  her  bright  eyes 
sparkled.  "  Well,  I  do  believe  I  will  allow  you 
to  set  the  seal  of  your  aristocratic  approval  upon 
my  toilet  this  evening,  by  selecting  it  yourself. 
I  think  I'll  have  Adele  to  display  for  your  inspec- 
tion some  of  my  choicest  evening  dresses,  so  that 
you  can  choose  fairly  what  will  enhance  my  per- 
sonal charms,  and  show  them  to  the  best  advan- 
tage. ' ' 

''  Pshaw!  you  are  amusing  yourself  at  my  ex- 
pense," he  said  quietly,  his  color  rising;  "but 
seriously,  I  mean  what  I  say.  I  don't  think  the 
secret  of  good  dressing  lies  in  many  toilets,  but 
in  suitable  and  immaculate  ones." 

' '  Well,  you  know  mine  are  many,  suitable  and 
immaculate,"  she  said,  adjusting  her  bracelet. 
and  still  smiling.     ' '  But  you  shall  decide. ' ' 

' '  Well,  whatever  you  wear,  my  dear, ' '  said 
Mrs.  Glen  wood,  turning  to  Agnes,  "  I  particu- 
larly wish  that  you  shall  look  well  this  evening 
— in  fact,  surpass  yourself.  I  have  my  reasons 
for  desiring  this. ' ' 

Agnes  looked  at  her  mother  with  a  bright  smile. 

"  Why,  Mamma,  I  never  knew  you  to  be  so 
particular  about  my  dress  before.  Of  course  111 
wear  what  you  wish  and  try  to  look  my  best. 
But  why  is  the  matter  so  very  important  on  this 
occasion,  if  I  may  ask  ?  " 

"  You  are  aware,  my  dear,  that  it  is  the  sense 
of  sight  which  is  first  appealed  to,  and  as  this  is 
the  avenue  that  leads  directly  to  the  heart,  the 
chances  are  always  in  favor  of  the  person  who 
cultivates  an  attractive  exterior,"  she  said  eva- 
sively.     ''  Any  woman  who  dares  to  hold  herself 


332  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

superior  to  dress,  is  a  very  singular  creature,  I 
think;  and  I  must  assuredly  concur  with  the 
lady  who  said  not  long  since  that  it  matters  not 
how  many  personal  charms  a  woman  may  have, 
or  how  many  gifts  she  may  possess,  if  she  is 
careless  or  indifferent  about  her  dress  it  obscures 
her  every  charm  and  gift  and  leaves  her  defence- 
less; and  while  a  perfectly  costumed  woman  is 
in  a  certain  sense  a  recognized  power,  and  doubt- 
less is  given  a  wider  sphere  for  usefulness  and  a 
greater  influence  for  good  than  her  more  shab- 
bily attired  neighbor,  yet  it  is  essential  at  the 
same  time  that  she  must  carry  with  her  choicest 
apparel  an  air  of  refinement  if  she  would  hope  to 
gain  attention.  It  is  not  so  much  the  lack  of 
funds  as  the  lack  of  artistic  appreciation  that 
places  a  woman  at  a  decided  disadvantage.  I 
don't  believe  that  a  gentleuian,  or  any  one.  ever 
grows  too  old  to  appreciate  the  charms  of  a  well- 
dressed  woman. ' ' 

"Do  you,  Carl?"  Agnes  asked,  glancing  at 
him  with  a  bewitching  laugh. 

''  Never,"  he  said. 

"Well,  Mamma,  I  am  quite  ready  to  acquiesce 
in  your  decision  in  the  matter  of  my  toilet  on 
this  special  occasion,  but  please  permit  me  to 
stipulate  just  one  thing."  Agnes  sank  back  in 
her  chair  and  began  fanning  herself. 

"What  is  it?"  her  mother  asked,  smiling 
down  at  her  as  one  humoring  the  caprice  of  a 
spoiled  child. 

"  That  I  shall  wear  no  jewels  of  any  kind," 
she  said  with  a  light  laugh. 

"  I  do  not  quite  understand  you, ' '  returned 
Mrs.  Glenwood.  ' '  I  know  of  no  diamonds  so  fine 
as  yours,  and  these  I  wish  you  to  wear  this  eveu- 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  333 

ing, "  she  added  in  a  tone  of  decision.  Then, 
after  discussing  the  subject  in  all  its  bearing, 
she  finally  settled  that  Agnes'  dress  was  to  be  a 
pale  blue  satin  with  tiny  thistles  woven  in  silver 
threads,  and  trimmed  in  lace.  The  magnificent 
parure  of  diamonds,  the  gift  of  her  father  two 
years  before,  would  be  sufficient,  she  said,  with- 
out the  aid  of  other  ornaments  of  any  kind. 

Mrs.  Glenwood  gave  a  sigh  of  relief,  as  if  she 
had  got  rid  of  a  most  intolerable  burden  and 
she  was  glad  the  ordeal  was  well  over  with. 
Then  she  turned  to  leave  the  room,  but  paused 
and  looked  back. 

"  Agnes,  I  think  you  would  better  go  and  lie 
down  now  and  rest  until  tea,  so  you  will  feel  re- 
fi'eshed  for  the  evening.  Carl  will  excuse  you, 
I  am  sure. ' ' 

"  Certainly  I  will,  little  Cousin,  for  I  want  you 
to  be  radiant  and  irresistible  this  evening, ' '  he 
said  gaily ;  ' '  and  make  a  conquest  of  a  certain 
fellow  I  know,  if  no  one  else.  I'm  sure  he  ad- 
mires you  immensely,  and  you've  nothing  to  do 
but  to  bring  him  to  your  feet.  He  is  one  of  the 
best  fellows  I  know,  and  a  decided  catch." 

' '  AVell,  that's  a  new  role  for  you  to  appear  in, ' ' 
said  Agnes,  laughing  with  a  little  sigh  of  resig- 
nation as  she  rose  to  follow  her  mother ;  "  I 
never  knew  you  to  play  the  part  of  a  matchmaker 
before.  I  confess  I  haven't  the  most  remote  idea 
to  whom  you  allude,  and  neither  am  I  going  to 
ask  you.  But  I'll  leave  you  now  to  the  blissful 
enjoyment  of  your  own  reflections.  Bye-bye," 
she  gave  him  one  of  her  brightest  smiles  and  left 
him  alone. 

As  soon  as  Mrs.  Glenwood  and  Agnes  quitted 
the  room  Carl  took  up  the  book,  Howell's  "April 


334  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Hopes,"  which  Agnes  had  been  reading  aloud, 
and  taking  the  seat  she  had  just  vacated  near 
the  window  began  to  read  where  she  had  left 
off.  He  was  soon  so  interested  in  its  pages  that 
he  did  not  hear  the  soft  step  that  crossed  the 
room,  and  not  until  he  felt  the  weight  of  a  Ught 
hand  upon  his  shoulder  did  he  suddenly  look  up. 

''  Little  Mother!  is  it  you  ?  "  he  said,  looking 
at  her  fondly,  while  he  rose  and  placed  an  easy 
lounging  chair  for  her  near  his  own. 

"  Where  is  Agnes  ?"  she  asked,  looking  round. 
' '  I  thought  she  was  in  here  with  you  ?  " 

"  So  she  was  until  a  few  minutes  ago,  when 
Cousin  Ella  came  to  consult  her  about  her  dress 
for  this  evening,  and  after  the  all  important 
question  was  arranged,  she  went  off  to  her  room 
for  a  nap. ' ' 

"  Who  is  going  with  her  to  Mrs.  Gordon's  this 
evening  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Bland.  It  seems  that  she  had  half  a 
dozen  offers,  but  Mr.  Bland  being  the  first,  he  is 
the  successful  aspirant  for  that  honor. ' ' 

' '  And  you  ?  ' '  his  mother  looked  at  him  with 
a  gentle  smile. 

"  T  am  going  with  Miss  Nina  Ashton.  She  is 
visiting  at  Col.  Glover's,  and  will  be  in  the  city 
several  weeks.  I'm  sorry  you  are  not  going. 
Mother, ' '  he  said  tenderly. 

' '  Yes,  but  I  do  not  feel  strong  enough,  and 
one  is  not  expected  to  sacrifice  health  to  social 
duties.  I  had  a  note  from  Euth  this  afternoon," 
she  went  on,  "  and  she  wished  me  to  look  in  the 
library  for  a  book — I  don't  remember  the  name 
— that  she  left  on  the  table.  I  wish  you  would 
get  it  for  me,  dear.  Here  is  Ruth's  note,  and 
you  can  see  the  name  of  the  book  and  bring  it  to 


me." 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  335 

He  took  the  note  and  read  it,  and  left  the 
room  at  once  to  do  her  bidding.  In  a  few  min- 
utes he  returned  with  the  book  she  wanted. 

Mrs.  Grayson  was  standing  by  the  table  bend- 
ing over  a  rose- jar  which  held  a  large  bouquet  of 
lovely  flowers. 

"Where  did  these  come  from,  Carl?  They 
are  very  beautiful.  Some  of  them  I  do  not  rec- 
ognize." 

' '  Mr.  Bland  sent  those  to  Agnes,  Mother  dear. 
Yes,  they  are  very  fine.  Here  is  '  The  Window 
in  Thrums,'  and  Euth's  note,''  he  said,  handing 
them  to  her.  "  So  unnatural  in  a  girl  like  Ruth, ' ' 
he  said,  "  with  her  rare  beauty  and  accomplish- 
ments not  to  care  for  society  and  such  things. 
Of  all  beautiful,  graceful  and  attractive  women 
I  know,  she  hasn't  a  peer.  I  regret  that  she  is 
not  going  to  Mrs.  Gordon's  this  evening." 

Mrs.  Grayson  looked  keenly  and  anxiously  at 
his  handsome  face  for  a  moment,  and  a  low  sigh 
escaped  her. 

"•  After  Ruth  is  graduated,"  she  said  calmly, 
"  she  will,  of  course,  go  more  into  society.  Just 
now  she  hasn't  the  time  if  she  had  the  inclina- 
tion. Heretofore,  during  her  vacations,  she  has 
declined  to  attend  social  gatherings  on  account 
of  being  in  mourning,  but  now  since  she  has  laid 
it  aside,  and  when  she  has  finished  her  studies 
at  the  Academy,  it  will  be  different — though  I 
believe  she  will  always  be  a  student  and  care 
very  little  for  a  gay  and  fashionable  life." 

Then  she  turned  to  him  and  laid  her  hand 
affectionately  upon  his  arm,  and  looked  up  ten- 
derly into  his  face.  She  hesitated,  because  what 
she  had  to  say  must  be  said  though  it  cost  her 
a  great  effort  to  say  it,  and  she  shrank  so  from 
wounding  him. 


336  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Carl,  my  dear,  brave  boy,''  she  said,  gently, 
"be  as  affectionate  and  kind  to  Euth  as  you 
will — regard  her  as  a  dear  friend,  a  cousin,  even 
as  a  sister  if  you  may ;  but  do  not,  let  me  ask 
you,  fall  in  love  with  her.  You  know  what  I 
mean — you  know  why  I  ask  you  this — you  know 
it  is  because  I  would  spare  you  future  disap- 
pointment and  pain.  While  Euth  is  the  one  wo- 
man I  should  have  wished  most  to  see  your  wife, 
and  I  love  her  as  a  daughter,  yet  she  has  no 
heart  to  give  you — no  such  love  as  you  would 
ask  to  make  you  happy.  I  know  that  you  are 
too  honorable  and  too  noble  to  think  of  trying  to 
win  her  love  under  the  circumstances,  but  I  sim- 
ply ask  you  to  repress  in  the  outset  all  feelings 
of  a  warmer  nature  than  mere  friendship,  if  you 
would  hope  to  retain  your  present  peace  and 
tranquility  of  mind.  I  have  taken  this  oppor- 
tunity to  talk  to  you,  Carl,  because  your  happi- 
ness and  welfare  are  very  dear  to  me,  and  so  are 
Euth's — and  your  uncle's  too,"  and  then  her 
voice  grew  softer;  "  I  should  like  you  to  know 
— to  have  the  assurance  of  my  ready  sympathy 
and  confidence,  now,  as  much  as  if  you  were  still 
a  boy,  and  feel  that  you  may  talk  with  me  at  all 
times  freely  and  unreservedly,  and  as  your  heart 
prompts  you." 

Carl's  face  flushed,  but  he  smiled  and  said  ear- 
nestly, "  Depend  upon  it.  Mother,  I  shall  love 
Euth  wisely,  but  not  too  well  for  my  own  peace 
of  mind ;  and  instead  of  loving  her  as  you  sug- 
gest, it  seems  I  must  learn  to  love  her  as  an  aunt. 
No,  so  far  as  I  can  see  and  know  my  own  heart, 
little  Mother,  there  is  no  need  for  your  appre- 
hension." 
^Mrs.    Grayson   smiled   at   his   bright,    boyish 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  337 

words,  which  she  knew  came  from  the  depths  of 
an  honest  heart.  He  bent  down  and  kissed  her. 
and  then,  without  another  word,  she  left  the 
room :  while  he,  still  thinking  of  what  she  had 
said  to  him,  resumed  his  book  and  tried  to  fix  his 
attention  upon  its  pages. 

Ignorance  is  sometimes  happiness,  and  Cai-1 
was  really  ignorant  of  the  depth  of  his  attach- 
ment for  Ruth,  and  so  was  sincere  in  what  he 
had  said  in  the  interview  with  his  mother. 

But,  with  her  quick  womanly  perception,  she 
had  read  something  more  than  he  knew  himself 
— ^something  beneath  the  surface  of  his  warm, 
impulsive  nature  which  she  feared  would  kindle 
into  a  passion  which  would  cost  him  dear. 

She  knew  his  character  well — every  strong 
and  weak  point  of  it;  and  she  knew,  too,  how 
best  to  appeal  to  his  high  and  noble  feelings. 
However,  she  had  simply  sounded  a  warning — 
she  hoped  there  would  be  no  need  to  do  more. 


338  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Late  one  afternoon,  some  days  after  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Glenwood  had  left  for  their  home  in  Cali- 
fornia, Agnes  sat  alone  on  the  veranda,  reading. 

It  had  been  a  lovely  day,  filled  with  the  sweet 
sensuous  influences  of  the  season,  and  now  it 
was  dying  beautifully. 

Masses  of  purple  clouds,  silver-rimmed,  floated 
across  the  western  horizon,  changing  magic-hke 
into  rosy  pink  and  pearly  gray  banners,  shot 
with  bars  of  sun-flushed  gold,  then  trailing  them- 
selves slowly  along,  gradually  paled  and  were 
lost  in  the  radiant  glow  of  the  crimson  sea  toss- 
ing its  bright  waves  above  the  leafy  tree-tops, 
where  the  sun  went  down  and  slept. 

In  the  sweet,  mysterious  silence  of  the  linger- 
ing twilight,  the  big  Ulies  in  the  marble  vase 
near  the  fountain  began  to  look  like  flower- 
ghosts,  as  the  soft  wind  swayed  their  pure  white 
chalices  to  and  fro  in  the  gloaming. 

The  chirp  of  a  cricket  came  from  the  shrub- 
bery, which  was  already  silvered  with  the  star- 
light and  the  pale  gleam  of  a  young  moon,  which 
hung  like  a  severed  ring  on  the  edge  of  the  starry 
vault. 

Bruce  was  lying  on  the  floor  at  Agnes'  feet, 
his  head  resting  on  his  outstretched  forepaws — 
not  asleep,  but  in  an  attitude  instinct  with  the 
sense  of  watchfulness — expectant. 

At  that  moment  Agnes  detected  the  faint, 
fragrant  odor  of  cigar  smoke,  then  voices  and 
footsteps  approaching. 

Instantly  Bruce  raised  his  head,  gave  a  low 
friendly  whine,  and  the  next  moment  bounded 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  339 

down  the  steps  to  meet  Carl  and  Nellie  coming 
up  the  walk. 

Nellie  and  Bruce  came  back  with  a  rush,  as 
was  their  habit,  and  Nellie,  in  passing,  flung  her 
arms  around  Agnes'  neck,  embraced  her  fer- 
vently, then  bounded  away  again. 

Meanwhile  Car]  had  quickened  his  pace:  a 
flush  of  pleasure  lit  up  his  countenance  as  he 
approached  his  cousin,  and  she  held  out  her  hand 
to  him. 

"I  was  just  thinking  about  you,"  she  said, 
drawing  a  chair  forward  for  him  near  her  own. 
"Sit  down." 

With  a  quick,  decided  gesture  he  threw  the 
cigar  away  he  had  been  smoking,  stooped  and 
playfully  kissed  the  tips  of  her  fingers,  then  sat 
down  beside  her. 

"Well,  I  feel  flattered, "  he  said,  "  even  though 
you  may  have  been  thinking  something  dreadful 
about  me.  But  when  did  you  get  back  ?  I 
thought  you  and  mother  were  at  Mrs.  Grace's 
for  tea?  I  had  no  idea  of  seeing  you  until  10 
o'clock  this  evening." 

He  took  up  her  plumed  fan  as  he  spoke,  opened 
it  and  began  fanuing  himself. 

"  So  we  were,  to  luncheon,"  she  said;  "but 
we  returned  half  an  hour  ago;  you  didn't  expect 
us  to  spend  the  night,  did  you  ?  ' ' 

"No,  not  exactly,"  he  laughed,  "and  I'm 
very  glad  you  didn't,  for  I — " 

' '  The  luncheon  was  from  t  wo  to  seven  o '  clock, ' ' 
she  interrupted  him.  "  W^e  went  at  four,  spent 
an  hour,  and  afterwards  drove  to  the  W.  and  S. 
Art  League  Exhibit,  and  then  came  home." 

"  I  hope  you  enjoyed  it,"  he  said. 

"  Which — the  luncheon  or  exhibit  ?  " 

' '  Both,  of  course. ' ' 


340  UNDER    GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

''  So  I  did  very  much.  The  League's  exhibit 
was  decidedly  creditable.  It  was  large  and  varied, 
and  there  was  some  exquisite  work — all  done  by 
the  local  members,  I  was  told.  I  met  Miss  Du- 
val, one  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the  organization, 
and  she  seems  to  manifest  an  enthusiastic  inter- 
est in  its  success.  She  had  some  lovely  things 
of  her  own,  and  some  etching  on  linen  I  was 
particularly  struck  Tvith — it  was  exquisitely  done. 
How  gifted  she  is  in  many  ways,  and  charming, 
too,  I  think.  Then  I  saw  a  painting  there,  done 
in  oil — a  landscape  scene — and  it  reminded  me 
very  much  of  a  similar  one  I  saw  in  your  friend's 
studio  in  Paris  last  fall. ' ' 

"  That  lake  scene  Cecil  painted  when  he  was 
with  us  in  Florence?"  Carl  asked  sympathet- 
ically.  "  Yes.  that  was  a  good  thing,"  he  added. 

"By  the  way,"  she  asked,  "when  did  you 
hear  from  Mr.  Brian  last "?  1  don't  know  when 
I've  thought  of  him  before  until  to-day.  But 
that  picture  recalled  him.  I  did  like  the  poor 
fellow  notwithstanding  his  dreamy,  peculiar 
ways.  But  I  suppose  all  artists  are  peculiar  in 
some  way.  Still,  I  liked  him,  you  know,"  she 
stopped  short  and  looked  at  him  thoughtfully, 
while  a  warm  color  came  into  her  face.  "  Yes, 
I  do  believe  there  is  something  great  in  him,  and 
he'll  yet  be  a  high  celebrity  some  day;  but  I 
can't  help  feeling  a  sort  of  strange  pity  for  him, " 

Carl  shook  his  head,  smiling  gravely. 

■'  Hush,  you  mustn't  say  anything  against  my 
friend  Cecil.  He's  a  splendid  fellow,  and  he  has 
his  own  troubles.  It  wasn't  your  fa  alt,  I  hon- 
estly believe,  nor  his  either,  that  he  fell  in  love 
with  you;  neither  was  it  your  fault  that  you 
couldn't  return  his  love.    But  that  little  episode, 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  341 

which  drove  everything  else  for  the  time  out  of 
his  head,  I  know  has  made  a  great  difference  in 
his  Hfe,  for  he  was  desperately  in  earnest,  little 
Cousin.  He  declares  he  will  never  marry,  but 
settle  down  in  Paris  and  bury  himself  in  his  art. 
I  had  a  letter  from  him  two  weeks  since.  He 
was  well  in  body,  sick  in  mind,  and  hard  at 
work." 

At  the  end  of  his  story  Agnes  sighed,  and  with 
a  touch  of  her  old  impulsiveness  said: 

"  Oh,  I  dare  say  he'll  soon  get  well  over  that 
little  affair,  marry  and  settle  down  and  resign 
himself  gracefully  to  connubial  joys  and  respon- 
sibilities. They  all  do.  Why,  I  never  knew  a 
man  to  pine  away  and  die  of  a  broken  heart; 
men  are  not  so  sensitively  organized.  They 
couldn't  do  it.  See  how  sensibly  your  friend 
acted  by  going  to  work.  There's  one  comfort 
that  his  disappointment  didn't  make  him  do  any- 
thing rash.  Yes,  he's  decidedly  sensible,  and  I 
like  him  the  better  for  it.  Now  tell  me, "  she 
said,  "  what  you've  been  up  to  all  the  afternoon  ? 
I'm  all  attention."' 

He  looked  at  her  expectant  of  surprise.  "After 
dinner  I  drove  with  Uncle  Ralph  to  Skiland,  Mr. 
Raynor's  stock  farm,  a  mile  from  the  city,  to 
look  at  a  span  of  thoroughbreds,  and  Uncle  Ralph 
— a  capital  judge  of  horse  flesh  he  is — was  so 
pleased  with  them  that  he  straightway  bought 
them  upon  sight.  The  best  part  of  it  is,  they  are 
thoroughly  broken  in,  and  Mr.  Raynor  says  that 
any  lady  can  drive  them  with  perfect  safety." 

'•  Delightful  I  "  exclaimed  x\gnes,  her  eyes 
alight  with  excitement  and  pleasure.  "  I  do  hope 
I  shall  be  permitted  to  enjoy  the  first  ride  behind 
them,  for  above  all  things  that  moves,  breathes 


342  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

and  has  its  being  in  the  animal  kingdom,  I  do 
adore  a  beautiful  horse.  Do  you  know,  I've  been 
so  struck  with  the  large  number  of  fine  horses 
I've  seen  since  I've  been  here — the  horses  I  see 
daily,  not  only  driving  upon  the  boulevards,  but 
even  the  dray  horses — many  of  them  are  superb 
animals  and  so  well  groomed.'' 

' '  Yes,  we  can  boast  of  some  as  fine  horse-flesh 
here  as  you'll  find  almost  anywhere.  On  any 
private  or  public  occasion  which  necessitates  a 
demonstration,  the  number  of  fine  horses  seen  in 
such  a  procession  always  provokes  high  compli- 
ments from  the  onlookei-s,  and  especially  from 
strangers. ' ' 

"  What  is  the  color  of  Cousin  Ralph's  new 
horses  ?  I'm  almost  as  impatient  to  get  a  peep 
at  them  as  I'm  sure  Nellie  will  be;  and  when 
will  they  be  home  ?  '' 

"  They  are  black,  and  glossy  as  satin,  and 
they'll  be  here  this  evening.  I'm  expecting  Vir- 
gil with  them  any  time  now.  They  are  perfect 
beauties,  I  can  tell  you." 

' '  Well,  you  surely  didn't  spend  the  whole  after- 
noon looking  at  a  pair  of  horses  ?  "  said  Agnes 
dubiously,  "  even  if  they  are  beauties." 

"  Oh,  no.  After  the  purchase,  Uncle  Ealph 
and  I  returned  home,  and  Nell  put  after  me  at 
once  to  take  her  out  to  the  base- ball  grounds  to 
see  the  games;  that  over,  we  took  ia  a  game  of 
lawn  tennis;  and  afterwards,  not  allowing  me 
the  responsibility  of  choice,  she  dragged  me  to 
the  ice-cream  restaurant,  and  that  disposed  of, 
she  was  easily  enough  induced  to  come  home — 
so  here  I  am. ' ' 

Agnes  laughed  merrily.  "  You  had  an  inter- 
esting experience,  certainly ;  but  no  doubt  Nellie 


IN    THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  343 

enjoyed  it,  if  you  didn't — especially  the  visit  to 
the  ice-cream  restaurant." 

The  next  morning  Agnes  and  Carl  drove  to  the 
West  End  Graded  School ;  but  they  did  not  drive 
the  mettlesome  black,  but  Beppo,  to  the  pony 
phaeton. 

On  one  side  of  the  beautiful  campus  a  crowd 
of  boys  were  playing  foot-ball,  and  every  now 
and  again  a  merry  shout  went  up  at  each  bril- 
liant point  in  the  game.  The  girls  were  on  the 
opposite  side,  engaged  in  various  kinds  of  amuse- 
ments. 

The  bell  rang  just  as  Carl  and  Agnes  mounted 
the  steps,  announcing  that  recess  was  over. 

"  What  a  pity  to  spoil  their  sport, "  said  Agnes. 
"  I  wish  we'd  come  a  little  sooner.  Now  we'll 
not  see  Nell. ' ' 

"  Yes,  we  can  see  her  in  the  hall  when  the 
pupils  march  in, ' '  said  Carl,  the  shouts  of  the 
victorious  team  almost  drowning  his  voice. 
' '  There  goes  the  drum,  '  beating  them  in, '  as 
Nell  says.  Let  us  hurry  so  as  to  get  a  good  po- 
sition and  be  out  of  the  way.  I  see  there  are 
several  other  visitors. ' ' 

"Lead  on,''  she  said,  and  they  entered  to- 
gether and  joined  the  group  of  visitors  standing 
in  the  broad  hall  and  waiting  for  the  pupils  to 
file  in.  Agnes  delightedly  enjoyed  the  next  few 
minutes. 

The  different  grades,  with  their  respective 
teachers,  filed  in  as  beautifully  and  orderl}-^  as  a 
troop  of  well-trained  soldiers,  keeping  perfect 
time  to  the  drum  beat,  the  very  lowest  grade  lead- 
ing, then  going  up  in  the  regular  order  of  their 
grading,  turning  right  and  left  to  their  respec- 
tive departments,  the  lower  grades  on  the  first 


344  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

floor,  and  the  higher  ones  ascending  the  stairway 
on  either  side,  to  their  rooms  on  the  second  floor. 

Nellie  threw  Agnes  and  Carl  a  meaning  glance 
and  smile  as  she  passed,  then  marched  on,  bear- 
ing her  little  self  proudly.  Agnes  and  Carl  ex- 
changed glances,  and  Carl  said  to  her: 

"  Nell  thinks  she's  about  the  most  important 
factor  in  the  school,  and  no  running  it  without 
her." 

After  the  last  pupil  had  disappeared,  and  all 
noises  ceased,  Agnes  and  Carl  turned  to  leave 
the  hall,  when  Professor  Blake,  who  had  been 
standing  on  the  opposite  side,  approached  them. 
He  had  recognized  them  when  they  entered  and 
bowed  to  them. 

"Are  you  enjoying  yourself.  Miss  Glen  wood  ?" 
stopping  in  front  of  her,  and  offering  his  hand. 

"  Very  much.  Your  pupils  did  beautifully — 
and  such  perfect  order.   How  many  are  there  ?  ' ' 

"About  five  hundred  in  this  school,  and  three 
hundred  in  the  other  white  graded  school  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  city.  There  is  also  a  -^erj 
prosperous  colored  graded  school  in  the  same  sec- 
tion, and  if  you  are  taking  in  some  of  our  city 
schools  to-day,  I  should  be  pleased  for  you  to 
visit  this  one,  too.  They  have  a  good  building, 
a  corps  of  excellent  teachers,  and  Professor 
Adams  will  take  great  pleasure  in  having  you 
shown  through  the  different  departments.  One 
very  entertaining  feature  of  that  school  is  the 
music,  and  the  singing  of  the  pupils  is  a  treat. 
Now,  in  the  white  graded  school  in  that  section, 
where  there  is  also  an  able  corps  of  instructors, 
you  will  find  the  same  work  in  all  the  depart- 
ments as  there  is  in  this,  and  in  each  grade  there 
is  daily  some  attractive  feature  to  arouse  the  in- 
terest of  the  pupils." 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  345 


i  i 


I  shall  be  glad  to  visit  them  both,  and  shall 
do  so  some  time ;  but  to-day  we  are  making  a 
special  visit  to  your  school — "  she  paused  and 
looked  up  at  him  questioningly ;  ' '  but  I  suppose 
all  the  graded  schools  in  the  city  are  under  your 
charge — in  other  words,  you  are  Superintendent 
of  them?" 

"Yes.  Now,  are  there  any  special  grades  in 
this  school  you  wish  to  visit,  or  will  you  see 
them  air?" 

"  Which  room  is  Nellie  in.  Professor  Blake  ?  " 
asked  Carl ;  then  turning  to  Agnes — ' '  You  know 
you  promised  Nell  you'd  call  on  her  to-day." 

' '  She  is  in  the  primary  department, ' '  he  said, 
''  here  to  the  left.  I  will  walk  with  you  to  the 
door,  and  Mrs.  Langdon  will  show  you  what  her 
'  little  men  and  women  '  can  do.  I  think  you 
will  find  much  to  interest  you  in  here,  also  in 
the  other  rooms. "  He  opened  the  door  just  then, 
and  as  soon  as  Mrs.  Langdon  invited  Carl  and 
Agn^s  to  seats,  near  the  rostrum.  Professor 
Blake  turned  away. 

More  than  an  hour  afterwards  they  were  re- 
turning through  the  hall,  and  just  then  Profes- 
sor Blake  stepped  out  of  his  office  a  little  ahead 
of  them. 

"  Well,  we've  taken  in  everything,"  said  Ag- 
nes, in  her  bright,  ardent  way ;  ' '  up-stairs  and 
down-stairs,  and  I  assure  you  I  think  the  pupils 
not  only  reflect  great  credit  upon  their  own  capa- 
bilities, but  the  ability  of  their  instructors.  I've 
been  most  pleasantly  entertained.  Carl  declares 
that  I  am  infected  with  some  of  the  enthusiasm 
of  your  teachers,  aad  he  shouldn't  wonder  if  I 
were  to  make  application  to  you  for  a  position 
of  duty.    We  are  going  now,  and  I'm  glad  I  saw 

23 


346  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

you  before  leaving  to  express  my  thanks  and 
pleasure. ' '     She  held  out  her  hand. 

Professor  Blake's  face  beamed.  "  Thank  you, 
Miss  Glenwood.  You  must  know  that  it  is  in- 
finitely gratifying  to  me  to  hear  you  speak  so 
favorably  of  our  work.  Have  you  been  in  the 
library  ?  "  he  asked,  stepping  back  a  pace  or  two 
and  placing  his  hand  on  the  lock  of  the  office 
door.  "  You  can  come  through  this  way,  and  I 
shall  be  pleased  to  show  you." 

She  looked  at  Carl.     "  Shall  we  go  ?  " 

"Oh,  certainly;  I  am  entirely  yours  to  com- 
mand to-dav. " 

"  We  have  a  class  in  stenography  and  type- 
writing taught  here  in  the  afternoons,"  said 
Professor  Blake,  as  they  entered  the  library,  and 
Agnes  walked  at  once  to  the  shelves  and  began 
looking  up  and  down  and  reading  the  titles  on 
the  backs  of  some  of  the  books ;  ' '  but  in  the 
mornings  the  room  is  opened  to  visitors." 

"  So  you  teach  your  pupils  something  outside 
their  regular  text-books — trades  and  profes- 
sions," she  said,  turning  round  with  a  volume 
of  Ruskin's  "Modern  Painters"  in  her  hand, 
which  she  had  drawn  out  from  amongst  a  num- 
ber of  that  author's  works. 

"  We  endeavor  to  give  all  a  good  practical  edu- 
cation, ' '  he  said ;  ' '  but  those  who  wish  to  study 
any  particular  profession  or  trade,  then  of  course 
they  are  required  to  study,  first,  all  about  it — 
that  is,  the  subjects  which  lead  up  to  and  are 
fundamental  to  it.  You  know  the  day  when  pro- 
fessions or  employments  of  any  kind  were  just 
taken  up  by  mere  observation,  or  say  desultory 
application,  has  long  since  passed  away.  In  these 
modern  days,  business,  education,  the  arts  and 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  347 

trades  of  every  kind,  have  grown  so  broad,  com- 
prehensive and  complicated,  that  all  these  things 
now  demand  careful,  scientific  study  on  the  part 
of  those  who  adopt  them.  If  one  knew  every- 
thing even  helpful  for  him  to  know  in  his  calling 
nowadays,  his  range  of  information  would  in- 
clude a  very  wide  circumference  of  knowledge 
indeed.  But  it  is  quite  impossible  for  a  student 
of  a  profession  to  grasp  and  assimilate  every- 
thing; so  he  is  obliged  to  omit  that  which  is 
least  essential,  and  concentrate  his  attention 
upon  things  most  directly  suited  to  his  purpose. 
To  do  this,  he  must  pursue  a  selective  course, 
and  not  waste  valuable  time  on  studies  that  have 
become  antiquated,  and  that  this  progressive  age 
has  outgrown.  There  is  so  much  merely  spec- 
ulative and  theoretical  writing,  too,  which  has 
to  be  avoided,  aad  here  again  the  best  judgment 
is  required  to  have  the  student  employ  good  ma- 
terial, and  that  best  suited  to  his  individual  need. ' ' 

Agnes  had  stood  hstening  to  him  with  bright 
eyes,  and  an  expression  which  said  jDlainly 
enough  that  she  fully  acquiesced  in  all  he  was 
saying.  When  he  stopped  she  turned  to  Carl 
with  a  touch  of  her  old  enthusiasm. 

"  More's  the  pity,  Carl,  that  you  didn't  know 
for  sare,  way  back,  when  you  were  a  mere  boy, 
that  you  intended  to  become  a  physician,  so  you 
might  have  taken  into  consideration  the  scien- 
tific character  of  the  preparation  which  would 
be  necessary  for  you  to  make  a  success. ' ' 

"  Well,  I  have  studied,  as  Professor  Blake  says, 
some  of  the  essential  things  that  lead  up  to  it — 
such  sciences  as  physics,  physiology,  chemistry, 
botany,  mathematics,  mineralogy  and  the  lan- 
guages, ' '  he  said.  ' '  so  I  think  I  am  familiar  with 


348  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

a  little  more  tliau  the  merely  technique  of  my 
intended  profession;  and  later  on  at  the  Medical 
College  which  I  shall  attend,  of  course  I  shall 
apply  myself  to  those  sciences  which  are  related 
to  medicine,  and  which  contribute  to  it." 

"  Yes,  physical  culture,  hygiene,  psychology, 
economics,  pharmacy,  and  other  great  subjects 
to  which  medicine  is  tributary,"  suggested  Pro- 
fessor Blake,  reflectively. 

' '  Dear  knows  what  a  wide  range  of  study  one 
has  to  travel  over  and  master  nowadays  before 
he  can  hope  to  make  a  success  of  anything, "  said 
Agnes,  returning  ' '  Modern  Painters  ' '  to  its  place 
OQ  the  shelf.  "  It  seems  that  one  knows  but  ht- 
tle  now,  even  if  his  knowledge  be  encyclopedic. 
Indeed,  when  I  look  around  me,  and  see  how 
much  there  is  yet  to  learn,  I  feel  that  I  know 
absolutely  nothing  at  all. ' ' 

"  When  one  has  reached  that  stage.  Miss  Glen- 
wood,"  said  Professor  Blake,  smiling,  "he  is 
not  only  in  a  fair  way  to  enlarge  his  present 
range  of  information,  but  perhaps  add  something 
new  to  the  fund- of  knowledge  he  already  posses- 
ses, by  cultivating  a  habit  of  thorough  and  orig- 
inal investigation.  But  if  one  hopes  to  keep 
abreast  in  this  day  he  must  necessarily  accustom 
himself  to  grasp — and  do  it  readily,  that  which 
will  cause  his  mental  faculties  to  grow  and  ex- 
pand, that  which  is  progressive  and  of  chief  im- 
portance to  the  world  in  which  he  moves — and 
to  which  world  he  is  expected  to  contribute 
something,  if  not  for  its  betterment,  then  for 
its  enjoyment,  otherwise  he  wiU  be  left  far  be- 
hind in  the  race  as  a  '  nullity, '  and  over- 
shadowed." 

A  changed  look  instantly  swept  over  Agnes' 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  349 

sensitive,  impressionable  face,  and  seeing  which 
Carl  said,  laughingly: 

"  Well,  the  world — your  friendly  world — will 
never  leave  you  behind  as  a 'nullity,'  Agnes, 
even  though  you  add  nothing  more  to  your  pres- 
ent store  of  knowledge;  for  your  contribution, 
in  the  way  of  bright  sunshine,  amply  compen- 
sates for  any  lack  of  mental  equipment  over 
which  you  may  grieve." 

"Ah,  well,  never  mind,"  she  said,  brighten- 
ing; "  we'll  not  argue  the  matter;"  then  turning 
to  Professor  Blake,  she  diverged  immediately 
into  other  topics,  talking  joyously  and  brightly, 
till  the  noon  bell  rang  and  the  drum  began  to 
beat. 

Agnes  started,  and  a  second  time  held  out  her 
liand  to  Professor  Blake  with  a  charming  manner. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  for  encroaching  so  upon 
your  time.  Can  it  be  so  late  as  that  ?  How 
pleasantly  and  rapidly  the  time  has  slipped  by. 
Do  let  me  thank  you  again  for  the  pleasure  you 
have  given  me.  I  have  enjoyed  everything  im- 
mensely.    It  was  very  good  of  you ;  good-bye. ' ' 


350  UNDER    GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

One  afternoon,  Mrs.  Grayson,  entering  the  sit- 
ting-room, came  upon  Agnes  sitting  at  the  piano, 
absently  running  her  fingers  over  the  keys,  and 
dreamingly  gazing  out  before  her. 

Mrs.  Grayson  walked  up  to  her  and  stood  be- 
side her,  resting  her  hand  upon  her  shoulder. 

' '  All  alone,  I  see ;  but  I  hope  you  are  not 
lonely.  I'm  so  glad  that  Ruth  will  be  with  you 
soon,  my  dear.  I  saw  her  only  a  few  minutes 
this  afternoon  at  the  Academy.  She  was  very 
busy  preparing  for  the  concert  this  evening.  I 
took  Nellie  with  me,  and  it  was  almost  as  much 
as  I  could  do  to  get  her  home.  I  believe  Ruth 
is  almost  sorry  that  this  is  her  last  term  there, 
and  would  invent  some  excuse  to  return  if  she 
could.  She  asked  many  questions  about  you, 
sent  a  great  deal  of  love,  and  said  you  must 
allow  nothing  to  prevent  you  attending  the  con- 
cert this  evening. ' ' 

Agnes  turned  round,  took  Mrs.  Grayson's  hand 
and  held  it,  caressing  it  softly. 

"  Oh,  indeed  I'm  going,  and  you  don't  know 
how  glad  I  am.  Cousin  Helen,  that  Ruth's  com- 
ing home.  Not  that  I'm  lonely  at  all;  oh,  no, 
no — how  could  I  get  lonely  here  with  you  ?  ' '  she 
asked  with  a  bright  smile,  and  a  faint  touch  of 
reproach  in  her  tone. 

At  the  Moravian  church  adjoining  the  Acad- 
emy, where  the  commencement  exercises  were 
held,  as  soon  as  the  doors  were  thrown  open  a 
tide  of  humanity  began  to  pour  in  through  the 
front,  back  and  side  entrance  ways,  and  at  7.45 
o'clock,  the  hour  for  the  opening  of  the  exer- 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  351 

cises,  there  was  standing  room  only ;  but  all  of 
this  that  was  available  was  soon  occupied,  and 
many  took  advantage  of  the  open  windows. 

Hundreds  of  white-robed,  happy  girls  looked 
down  from  the  tiers  of  seats  on  the  temporary 
platform,  which  extended  very  nearly  to  the 
centre  of  the  church,  leaving  a  space  which 
seemed  pitifully  small  for  the  immense  audience 
so  eager  to  be  accommodated. 

The  Grayson  party  were  in  time  to  secure  the 
seats  reserved  for  them  near  the  platform,  and 
as  soon  as  they  were  seated  Agnes  glanced  round 
on  the  brilliant  scene.  The  auditorium  was 
packed  from  main  floor  to  galleries,  with  an  au- 
dience representing  the  culture  and  fashion  of 
the  two  cities  on  this  opening  night  of  the  com- 
mencement ;  and  it  was  an  assemblage  of  people 
who  were  discriminating  in  their  applause,  as 
well  as  keen  to  recognize  the  good  points  of  the 
performance. 

Under  the  glow  of  the  electric  light,  the  wav- 
ing fans,  the  beautiful  costumes  of  the  ladies, 
the  flashing  jewels,  the  exquisite  decorations,  all 
made  up  a  scene  at  once  dazzling  and  beautiful. 
Although  the  room  was  uncomfortably  crowded, 
the  best  of  order  prevailed. 

Agnes  was  a  passionate  lover  of  music,  yet 
to-night  her  thoughts  were  so  much  occupied 
with  Ruth,  that  for  once  in  her  life  she  was 
almost  deaf  to  the  sweet  strains  of  melody  which 
floated  over  the  packed  house.  Somehow  she  had 
a  feeling  of  mingled  hope  and  anxiety,  a  sort  of 
vague  dread  for  Ruth,  which  feeling,  however, 
Mrs.  Grayson  did  not  share. 

"  What  if  Ruth  should  fail?"  Agnes  said  to 
herself  over  and  over  again.     "  Oh,  it  would  be 


352  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

terrible."  She  looked  toward  her  and  began 
studying  every  feature  of  the  sweet  face.  She 
seemed  perfectly  calm  and  self-possessed,  and 
Agnes  thought  she  had  never  seen  her  more  beau- 
tiful. She  turned  to  say  something  to  Mrs.  Gray- 
son, and,  at  that  moment  there  was  a  surging 
movement  and  ripple  of  excitement  all  over  the 
house,  and  when  she  looked  quickly  back  to  the 
stage,  Ruth  was  standing  in  full  view  of  the  au- 
dience, near  the  footlights,  and  as  still  as  a 
statue.  The  sheet  of  music  she  held  in  her  hand 
scarcely  moved.  "  How  lovely!  How  beauti- 
ful! "  were  the  whispered  compliments  which 
Mrs.  Grayson  and  Agnes  heard  on  all  sides.  But 
Ruth  seemed  perfectly  unconscious  of  the  admir- 
ing, wondering  glances  bent  upon  her  by  that 
sea  of  upturned,  eager  faces. 

She  wore  no  jewels,  nor  did  she  need  any,  for 
her  peerless  beauty  needed  no  enhancement.  Her 
dress  was  an  exquisite  combination  of  some  fleecy 
white  and  heliotrope  material,  trimmed  in  gleam- 
ing lace  and  ribbon,  which  set  off  to  perfection 
her  marvelous  beauty  and  graceful  figure. 

Amidst  the  enthusiastic  stir  and  rustle  which 
her  appearance  excited.  Miss  Trenton,  her 
teacher,  took  her  seat  at  the  piano,  and  struck 
the  first  chords  of  the  accompaniment — then 
paused. 

Ruth  still  looked  on  in  silence ;  the  glittering- 
throng  before  her  seemed  to  fade  into  nothing- 
ness, and  for  one  brief  moment  she  swayed  like 
a  tender  flower  shaken  in  a  stormy  blast.  The 
next  few  minutes  the  stillness  was  almost  pain- 
ful. Agnes  laid  her  hand  impulsively  upon  Mrs. 
Grayson's,  pressing  it  hard,  and  w^hispered  un- 
der her  breath,  "  Oh,   Cousin  Helen,  I   almost 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  353 

knew  she'd  fail.     I'd  give  anything  to  save  her 
the  humihation  I  know  she  must  suffer. ' ' 

Mrs.  Grayson  did  not  answer,  nor  take  her  eyes 
from  the  lovely  face  upon  which  the  gaze  of 
hundreds  were  riveted.  She  had  never  thought 
that  Ruth  would  fail,  and  she  would  not  suffer 
herself  to  think  so  no\^. 

At  that  moment  Ruth  raised  her  beautiful, 
wistful  eyes, as  though  by  some  mysterious  power, 
and  looked  out  over  the  vast  audience — then 
seemed  to  hold  her  breath;  but  the  next  mo- 
ment, as  if  by  magic,  a  rosy  bloom  flushed  into 
her  lovely  face,  her  eyes  sparkled,  her  face 
beamed,  and  everything  else  was  forgotten. 

Suddenly  a  rich  voice  burst  upon  them — a 
melody  so  sweet,  so  exquisite  that  it  rose  and 
fell  like  sunlit  waves  upon  a  summer  sea,  thrill- 
ing every  fiber  of  one's  being  with  a  sense  of 
tenderest,  sweetest  harmony,  and  holding  them 
in  a  spell  of  rapture.  Indeed,  the  magnificent, 
soul-stirring  strains  rippled  through  the  house 
with  an  effect  that  was  almost  sublime,  and  for 
the  moment  the  singer  was  lost  sight  of  in  the 
glorious  melody  of  her  matchless  voice. 

Her  interpretation  was  a  revelation  to  her  en- 
raptured listeners,  for  she  seemed  to  appeal  to 
them  through  an  inner  sense — that  indescribable 
something  which  every  artist  must  have  if  he 
would  compel  others  to  feel  what  he  himself  feels, 
and  draw  them  to  him.  It  was  no  wonder  that 
the  audience  appreciated  her  wonderful  artistic 
triumph;  no  wonder  they  accorded  her  the 
greatest  possible  demonstration  of  their  unquali- 
fied approval.  Never  was  the  meed  of  praise 
laid  at  one's  feet  more  graciously  and  willingly, 
never  was  it  more  heartfelt  and  sincere,  even  in 
this  critical  city. 


354r  UNDKR   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

When  the  last  delicious  note  of  the  ' '  Nightin- 
gale's  Trill  "  had  ceased  and  Ruth  took  her  seat, 
the  audience  seemed  in  an  ecstacy  of  delight, 
and  the  applause  was  deafening.  Again,  and 
still  again  she  was  called  for— called  to  come 
back  before  the  footlights ;  and,  when  at  last  she 
rose  with  a  grace  born  of  her  own  charming  na- 
ture, and  once  more  faced  the  audience,  the 
house  became  hushed  and  breathless,  and  all 
seemed  suddenly  imbued  with  a  spirit  of  expec- 
tancy. But,  looking  pleased  and  happy  as  a 
child,  she  simply  made  a  graceful  salutation, 
then  smiling  and  bowing  her  thanks  right  and 
left,  resumed  her  seat,  while  another  storm  of 
applause,  even  more  deafening  than  the  first, 
burst  forth,  and  did  not  cease  until  Principal 
Cordell  rose,  and  at  her  request  asked  to  be  ex- 
cused.    But  the  capture  was  complete. 

It  was  evident  that  Euth  was  deeply  affected 
by  this  demonstration  of  the  audience — this  trib- 
ute paid  to  her  splendid  genius,  and  in  this  hour 
of  her  triumph,  while  the  plaudits  of  the  people 
were  ringing  in  her  ears,  she  could  not  still  her 
heart,  beating  its  tumultuous  song  of  joy.  Ah, 
there  are  so  few  who  can  withstand  the  pressure 
of  public  applause — that  incentive,  whose  force 
can  be  judged  only  by  those  who  have  experi- 
enced it.  But  there  was  little  danger  that  Ruth 
would  be  spoiled  by  this  generous  tribute  paid  to 
her  genius,  a  genius  which  she  appreciated  as  a 
heaven-born  gift,  to  be  used  for  a  noble  purpose, 
and  consecrated  to  the  service  of  the  Great 
Giver  who  bestowed  it. 

Before  the  echo  of  applause  had  quite  died 
away,  Agnes  turned  to  Carl,  her  sweet  face 
glowing. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  355 


u 


Oh,  isn't  she  superb,  glorious.  I  could  not 
have  wished  her  to  have  done  better ;  and  who 
would  have  thought  it  of  sensitive,  shrinking 
Ruth  Arnold.  I  long  to  get  to  her  and  congrat- 
ulate her — embrace  her.  Cousin  Helen,  don't 
you  feel  proud  of  Ruth  to-night  ?  "  she  went  on, 
enthusiastically,  turning  to  Mrs.  Grayson. 

But  Mrs.  Grayson  could  only  smile  and  bow ; 
she  could  not  trust  her  voice,  for  her  emotion 
almost  overpowered  her.  Then  Agnes'  eyes  trav- 
eled back  to  Ruth,  and  she  saw  that  the  beautiful 
singer  was  looking — not  at  them,  but  beyond 
them,  across  the  sea  of  faces,  as  though  some 
strange,  subtle  force  claimed  and  compelled  her 
gaze.  For  a  full  minute  her  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
one  spot,  in  a  remote  part  of  the  room,  while  her 
face  shone  with  a  beautiful  light;  and,  all  of  a 
sudden  it  came  to  Agnes,  why,  and  for  whose  sake 
Ruth  had  sung  her  very  soul  out,  as  it  were,  in 
a  tide  of  melody  beyond  all  praise,  and  thrown 
the  spell  of  her  wonderful  power  over  that  vast 
audience.  She  knew  now  why  that  sudden  start 
and  inspiration  when  she  had  made  sure  she 
would  fail — knew  now  why  she  had  sung  so 
divinely,  and  as  she  had  never  heard  her  sing 
before.  She  turned  and  looked  at  Carl,  and  as 
their  eyes  met,  involuntarily  they  both  smiled, 
and  he  plainly  read  in  her  expressive  face  what 
her  lips  would  have  uttered  but  for  the  time  and 
l^lace. 

The  commencement  week  was  a  succession  of 
bright  days,  each  one  more  beautiful  and  fuller 
of  attraction  than  the  last.  There  was,  however, 
a  feeling  of  genuine  disappointment  among  the 
large  audience  Saturday  evening  when  it  became 
known  that  Miss  Shelburne  would  not  appear  in 


356  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

one  of  her  artistic  impersonations;  but^the  gen- 
eral excellence  of  her  class,  and  the  announce- 
ment that  she  would  appear  on  several  other  oc- 
casions during  the  commenceaient  exercises, 
somewhat  reconciled  the  audience  to  their  dis- 
appointment that  evening. 

On  Sunday  morning  the  preliminary  services 
were  conducted  by  the  pastor  and  Bishop  of  the 
Moravian  church,  and  the  music  was  unusually 

fine. 

The  Orchestra  and  part  of  the  Philharmonic 
Society,  assisted  the  regular  church  choir,  and 
w-as  directed  by  Professor  Schumann.  "The 
Haydn's  are  Telling,''  a  chorus  from  Haydn's 
Oratoria,  "The  Creation,"  was  rendered  with 
beautiful  effect.  Then  Miss  Maitland,  the  teacher 
of  vocal  music  in  the  Academy,  sang  at  this 
morning  service,  "  Forever  with  the  Lord,"  and 
her  strong  voice,  rich  in  melody,  filled  the  beau- 
tiful auditorium. 

After  the  opening  service.   Principal   Cordell 

rose  and  introduced  Rev.  Dr.  M ,  of  Virginia, 

who  preached  the  Baccalaurate  Sermon  from 
Proverbs  xxxi.  30,  "  Favor  is  deceitful  and  beauty 
is  vain,  but  a  woman  that  f  eareth  the  Lord  shall 
be  praised." 

The  minister  was  yet  a  young  man.  of  hand- 
some appearance  and  gentle  and  persuasive  in 
his  manner.  His  sermon  was  more  in  the  style 
of  confidential  advice  to  the  young  ladies,  but 
was  rich  in  thought  and  exquisitely  clothed  in 
classic  language.  He  was  eloquent  without  at- 
tempting oratory,  and  a  more  beautiful  and  ap- 
propriate baccalaureate  sermon  was  never  heard 
within  the  walls  of  that  ancient  Moravian  church. 
His  impressive  words  crystallized  themselves  in 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  357 

the  memory  of  his  hearers,  and  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  sermon  until  his  closing  sentence, 
the  large  audience  was  held  spell-bound. 

Agnes  and  Carl  sat  in  the  gallery  that  morn- 
ing; and  as  they  listened  to  the  minister's  impres- 
sive discourse,  and  looked  down  on  the  sweet 
girl  graduates  in  their  pretty  costumes,  on  the 
platform,  they  could  not  help  thinking  how  ap- 
propriate and  well-chosen  were  the  speaker's 
words;  and  Agnes  knew  that  much  he  said  was 
especially  applicable  to  Ruth,  for,  in  addition  to 
being  young  and  beautiful,  she  had  the  sweet 
dignity  and  grace  of  a  pure  and  lovely  Christian 
character. 

That  evening  Agnes  returned  with  the  Gray- 
sons  to  the  evening  service,  which  was  a  very 
beautiful  one,  and  she  particularly  enjoyed  the 
excellent  music,  and  exquisite  rendering  by  the 
choir  of  ' '  Unfold  ye  Portals  Everlasting, ' '  from 
Gounod's  Redemption.  The  service  was  con- 
ducted by  the  beloved  Moravian  Bishop. 

When  the  doxology  and  benediction  were  con- 
cluded, and  the  congregation  turned  to  quit  the 
church,  the  Gray  sons  vv^aited  a  few  minutes  to 
speak  with  Ruth,  who,  as  soon  as  she  saw  them 
approaching,  came  to  the  front  of  the  platform 
to  meet  them.  There  was  an  indefinable  expres- 
sion of  peace  and  calm  repose  on  her  lovely  face, 
and  her  splendid  eyes  shone  with  a  radiance  that 
was  almost  unearthly. 

After  Dr.  Leslie  and  Mrs.  Grayson  had  greeted 
her,  Agnes  said,  smiling  up  into  her  face,  "We'll 
not  detain  you  long,  darling;  for  I'm  sure  you 
are  tired,  but  we  merely  want  to  speak  to  your 
just  for  the  pleasure  of  it;  and  then  I  wanted  to 
tell  you,"  lowering  her  voice,  "  that  I'm  entirely 


358  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

disabused  of  some  erroneous  impressions  with 
regard  to  your  commencement.  I  had  fancied 
that  I  should  be  bored  to  death ;  you  know  com- 
mencements, as  a  rule,  are  so  wearisome;  but, 
so  far,  I'm  most  agreeably  surprised — delighted 
with  all  I've  seen  and  heard.  I  assure  you  I'm 
not  coming  through  any  sense  of  duty,  or  affect- 
ing an  interest  I  do  not  feel,  but  simply  because 
it  is  a  genuine  refreshment  to  come,  and  I  enjoy 
it.  Now,  I'm  going  to  say  good-night;  don't 
talk;  save  your  voice — "  she  put  up  her  hand 
with  a  protesting  gesture,  then  throwing  her  a 
kiss  from  the  tips  of  her  fingers  with  a  charming 
grace,  she  sHpped  her  hand  through  CarPs  arm 
as  he  came  up  at  that  moment,  and  moved  away, 
compelling  him  to  accompany  her,  while  Dr. 
Leslie  and  Mrs.  Grayson  waited  to  bid  Ruth 
good -night,  and  then  turned  and  followed  Agnes 
and  Carl  down  the  aisle  and  out  of  the  church. 

The  center  of  attraction  on  Tuesday  afternoon 
was  the  art  and  industrial  exhibit  in  the  Acad- 
emy chapel.  The  doors  were  thrown  open  at 
two  o'clock,  and  from  then  until  five  the  chapel 
was  thronged  with  friends  of  the  institution. 
Reunion  of  old  friends,  young  ladies  breathing 
the  air  of  freedom  once  more,  meeting  of  old  as- 
sociates, fathers,  mothers  and  other  relatives, 
were  some  of  the  scenes  and  events  that  made 
the  afternoon  memorable  to  many  who  assem- 
bled there,  and  all  meeting  together  with  that 
delightful  informality  which  made  the  occasion 
such  an  enjoyable  one.  The  exhibit  was  really 
an  attraction  worth  making  an  effort  to  see. 
Painting  pictures  in  water-colors  and  oil,  crayon - 
work,  dainty  bits  of  embroidery,  elegant  house 
decorative  work,  specimens  of   bookkeeping  and 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  359 

stenography;  and  on  a  table,  apart  from  other 
exhibits,  were  tempting  morsels  of  food  prepared 
by  the  school-girls;  on  another  the  exhibit 
from  the  sewing  and  dressmaking  department, 
showing  that  the  value  of  practical  education 
was  appreciated,  and  in  this,  as  all  other  re- 
spects, the  famous  old  institution  was  bravely 
keeping  abreast  with  the  progressive  era. 

Indeed,  the  specimens  of  work  from  every  de- 
partment, including  specimens  of  statuary  and 
sculpture  as  well,  were  all  most  artistically  ar- 
ranged about  the  room,  amid  a  profusion  of 
flowers,  palms  and  evergreens,  and  the  beautiful 
display  evidenced  the  fact  that  the  more  elegant 
accomplishments  were  not  taught  to  the  neglect 
of  the  practical  side  of  the  institution,  which 
was  as  finely  displayed,  and  elicited  much  favor- 
able comment  from  the  visitors. 

There  was  also  a  class  reunion  on  this  day. 
When  the  class  of  '89,  composed  of  twenty-four 
young  ladies,  parted  company  at  the  Academy, 
there  was  an  understanding  that  they  should 
meet  in  reunion  at  this  present  commencement. 
Of  the  twenty-four,  thirteen  of  the  number  as- 
sembled in  one  of  the  class  rooms  and  held  their 
happy  meeting.  Six  of  the  Southern  States  were 
represented  at  this  reunion — from  the  Lone  Star 
State  on  the  Gulf,  to  the  Old  Dominion  touching 
the  bright  waters  of  the  Chesapeake. 

The  president  appointed  at  this  meeting,  de- 
cided to  hold  their  next  reunion  during  the  com- 
mencement of  '99.     After  the  business  meeting. 

Bishop   R and    Principal  Cordell   and   two 

press  representatives  joined  the  class  in  partak- 
ing of  refreshments.  Then,  in  a  few  appropriate 
remarks.  Principal  Cordell  congratulated  the  class 


360  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

upon  their  happy  reunion,  and  said  he  beheved 
it  would  mark  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the 
Alumnae  work. 

Bishop  R.  followed  and  expressed  his  pleasure 
at  the  interest  the  young  ladies  were  taking  in 
the  school,  and  hoped  that  they  would  all  return 
to  the  next  meeting. 

After  this,  the  president  declared  the  reunion 
at  an  end,  thus  closing  one  of  the  pleasantest 
events  of  commencements,  at  least  to  a  small 
circle. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  361 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


The  evening  was  charming  and  the  wind  fresh, 
just  breeze  enough  to  make  it  dehghtful. 

Mrs.  Grayson  and  Carl  were  standing  on  the 
veranda  waiting  for  Agnes,  who  for  some  reason 
had  put  off  making  her  toilet  until  the  last  mo- 
ment. Presently  Dr.  Leslie  made  his  opportune 
appearance,  and  the  next  moment  Agnes'  merry 
voice  sounded  down  the  broad  stairway,  asking 
Julia  for  her  Cousin  Helen. 

As  she  came  out  on  the  veranda,  Carl  turned 
round  to  make  some  playful  remark  as  usual 
about  detaining  them,  but  as  soon  as  he  caught 
sight  of  her,  he  paused,  whistled  softly  to  him- 
self, then  went  forward  to  meet  her,  holding  out 
his  hand. 

• '  Pray  tell  me,  fair  Cousin  mine,  where  you 
intend  holding  court  this  evening  ?  "  he  asked 
gayly,  surveying  her  from  head  to  foot.  ' '  You 
are  positively  radiant  in  that  bewitching  cos- 
tume— a  picture  fit  for  an  artist.  If  I  were 
heart  whole  and  fancy  free,  I  do  not  know  but  I 
should  bow  a  willing  captive  at  your  shrine  my- 
self." 

''  Keep  your  compliments  and  declarations  of 
love  for  some  silly  miss,  who  has  more  faith  in 
their  sincerity  than  I  have,"  she  said,  laughing. 
"  However,  I'll  allow  you  to  admire  my  costume 
as  you  take  us  to  the  carriage." 

The  dress  she  wore  was  a  perfectly  delicious 
shell-pink — a  color  to  make  one  dream  of  the 
ethereal  clouds  and  the  dawn — of  rich,  sheeny 
satin,  made  severely  plain  in  the  front,  with  a 
baby  bodice  and  wide  sash  of  the  same  material 

24- 


362  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

as  the  dress,  and  trimmed  in  filmy  lace.  Her 
opera  cloak,  which  was  thrown  carelessly  half 
around  her  snowy  shoulders,  was  of  rich  white 
silk,  exquisitely  embroidered  on  the  border  in 
dainty  sea-shell  designs,  and  trimmed  in  long- 
fringe  and  had  a  jewelled  clasp. 

"And  so  you've  changed  your  mind  again  and 
decided  to  go  to  Mrs.  Hilton's  after  the  concert," 
said  Dr.  Leslie,  smiling  and  glancing  at  the  even- 
ing dress. 

"  Oh,  I  intended  going  all  along."  she  an- 
swered, as  he  handed  her  into  the  carriage.  "  I 
dare  say  it  will  be  a  very  pleasant  affair,"  then, 
laughing  pleasantly,  she  said: 

"  I  verily  believe,  Cousin  Ralph,  you  think 
I'm  as  tickle  as  the  wind." 

"No,  indeed;  I  entertain  no  such  opinion  of 
you,  my  dear,"  he  said;  "  neither  do  I  endorse 
the  saying  as  applied  to  your  sex  in  general. 
But,  it  is  not  what  people  think  we  are,  whether 
good,  bad  or  indifferent,  but  what  we  really  are 
that  is  all-important.  They  may  misunderstand 
and  criticise,  they  may  flatter  and  overrate  us ; 
but  opinion  is  one  thing  and  truth  is  another, 
you  know." 

' '  Yes,  yes ;  I  see  the  force  of  your  reasoning ; 
but  never  mind,  let  others  say  what  they  will 
and  act  as  they  will,  I'm  sure  you'll  always  be 
courteous  and  loyal  to  us,"  she  said,  placing  her 
hand  over  his  and  giving  him  a  look  which  meant 
more  than  words. 

"  '  Because  most  of  their  faults  women  owe  to 
men;  and  for  most  of  your  virtues  we  men  are 
indebted  to  women, '  so  said  a  noted  divine  re- 
cently," he  answered,  smiling. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  363 

Agnes  was  about  to  reply,  when  Carl  turned 
quickly  and  repeated  to  her  with  a  teasing  smile, 

"  To  thine  own  self  be  true. 
And  it  must  follow  as  the  night  the  day, 
Thou  canst  not  then  be  false  to  any  man." 

Agnes  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

' '  Hush !  Cousin  Helen,  I  wish  you  would 
please  call  Carl  to  order.  It  will  be  a  great  kind- 
ness to  me.  I  believe  he  takes  a  secret  pleasure 
in  victimizing  me. " 

Mrs.  Grayson  smiled  indulgently,  and  Agnes, 
with  a  reproachful  glance  at  Carl,  but  the  next 
instant,  unable  longer  to  restrain  herself,  burst 
into  a  merry  peal  of  laughter,  musical  as  the 
tinkle  of  a  silver  bell. 

After  that  she  was  as  full  of  prattle  as  a  child, 
which  she  kept  up  almost  uninterruptedly — for 
Nellie,  of  her  own  accord,  had  remained  at  home — 
until  they  disembarked  before  the  Moravian 
church,  and  where,  upon  being  ushered  into  the 
brilliantly-lighted  auditorium,  they  found  it  was 
already  filling  rapidly. 

"  I  think  I  should  like  to  occupy  a  seat  over 
there  to  the  left,  with  the  representatives  of  the 
press, "  said  Agnes,  flashing  a  glance  in  the  direc- 
tion, as  they  took  their  seats  in  front  of  the  plat- 
form. "I  fancy  it  is  the  best  point  of  view  to 
watch  the  people  as  they  come  in." 

' '  I'll  try  to  get  you  a  seat  up  there  with  them, ' ' 
returned  Carl,  laughing,  '*  if  you'll  agree  to  per- 
form the  work  they  do,  and  as  well.  But  it  is 
not  all  sight-seeing  with  them,  and  they  are  not 
having  such  an  easy  time  of  it  as  you  might  sup- 
pose. It's  work — work.  Now,  do  you  think  you'd 
like  to  undertake  the  job  to  get  a  little  experi- 
ence ? ' ' 


364  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


a 


Yes,  certainly ;  and  I  should  expect  my  re- 
ward, too,"  she  answered,  with  a  bright  smile. 
"  I  believe  in  conceding  to  every  man,  and  wo- 
man, too,  that  which  you  ask  for  yourself — fair 
remuneration  for  his  or  her  labor. ' ' 

"  Then  it  would  be  a  selfish  motive,  or  self- 
interest  after  all  that  prompted  you.  like  the  rest 
of  us  ?  "  he  said,  still  laughing. 

She  lifted  her  eyebrows,  interrogatively. 

"  Why,  of  course.  I  don't  fancy  any  one  works 
just  for  the  amusement  of  the  thing;  and  I 
shouldn't  do  it  either,  not  if  I  had  the  reputed 
riches  of  Croesus.  If  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire,  then  by  all  means  let  him  be  paid,  and  to 
the  very  last  farthing," 

"  What  are  you  and  Carl  disputing  about,  my 
dearV" 

"Nothing  much,  Cousin  Helen,"  she  said; 
"  nothing  but  nonsense." 

But  she  repeated,  in  substance,  their  conversa- 
tion, then  began  talking  about  Ruth — the  all- 
important  subject  of  her  graduating.  At  the 
same  time  they  became  conscious  that  some  one 
else  was  discussing  her,  too — strangers  no  doubt, 
at  least  to  them,  for  they  gossiped  with  more 
freedom  than  discretion;  and  though  the  Gray- 
sons  tried  not  to  hear,  it  was  impossible  to  avoid 
it  without  changing  their  seats.  On  account  of 
their  position  they  could  not  see  the  speakers 
without  turning  directly  around,  and  this  Agnes 
felt  strongly  tempted  to  do  several  times,  even 
at  the  risk  of  sacrificing  conventional  restraint 
and  propriety  to  gratify  a  pardonable  curiosity. 

The  speakers  went  on  with  their  gossip. 

'*•  She's  a  beauty,  no  question  about  that;  and 
might   marry   a   lord   or   prince,  if   the  lord  or 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  305 

prince  were  only  available,  but,  as  it  seems  they 
are  not,  it  is  said  slie'U  be  tolerably  sure  to  marry 
young  Grayson,  who  is  recently  back  from  Eu- 
rope, and  a  nephew  of  Dr.  Leslie.  Very  natural 
to  suppose  so.  Young  Grayson  is  rich,  has  ex- 
pectations, and  brains  enough  to  take  care  of 
her  in  the  event  his  bank  account  fails  or  is 
cut  short;  and  'tis  said  he's  not  at  all  bad  look- 
ing.    The  girls  seems  to  like  him.'" 

"  Did  you  ever  see  him  ?  ''  a  lisping  voice — a 
woman's  voice  asked. 

"  Guess  I  never  did,''  came  the  answer  from 
the  first  speaker,  in  a  man's  voice,  "  or  perhaps 
1  should  know  whether  his  good  looks  were 
overrated." 

There  was  a  suppressed  titter,  and  then  a 
second  female  voice  asked  in  a  sneering  tone, 
"  But  what  about  her  bank  account  and  her  ex- 
pectations ?  I  imagine  it's  a  rather  one-sided 
affair  from  a  financial  point  of  view,  and,  per- 
haps, a  social  one,  too;  who  knows?" 

''  Oh,  of  course  the  Graysons'  approval  and 
patronage  will  give  her  prestige  if  she's  as  poor 
as  a  church  mouse.  But  her  beauty  and  genius 
more  than  counterbalance  all  that  young  Gray- 
son's money,  with  his  good  looks,  and  expecta- 
tions and  accomplishments  thrown  in, ' '  said  the 
lisping  voice,  laughing  softly. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.''  replied  the  first 
speaker.  "  Beauty  and  genius,  and  all  that  sort 
of  thing,  are  well  enough  in  their  way,  but  the 
glitter  of  gold  has  the  strongest  glamour.  The 
world  over,  there  is  a  reverence  paid  to  the  owner 
who  shows  the  gleam  of  the  yellow  coin  that  is 
not  shown  to  your  '  poor  church  mouse.'  " 

Hush,  I  don't  believe  it;  I  won't  believe  it," 


a 


366  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

returned  the  lisping  voice,  "everybody  is  not 
mean  and  mercenary,  because — " 

"  Oh,  no;  I  didn't  say  they  were,"  interrupted 
the  first  speaker,  "'  and  I  wouldn't  have  you  be- 
lieve it — good  and  evil  run  along  aside  in  this 
world.  But  take  my  word  for  it,  when  you've 
had  a  little  more  of  this  old  world's  experience, 
and  learned  a  little  more  about  human  nature, 
you'll  be  pretty  sure  to  acknowledge  the  truth  of 
the  assertion  I've  just  made.  I  can  only  hope 
that  you  maybe  disappointed, "  concluded  the 
speaker,  with  a  slightly  sarcastic  emphasis. 

Agnes  glanced  at  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Dr.  Leshe, 
to  see  if  they  had  heard;  but  they  were  talking 
in  a  low  tone  to  one  another,  and  seemed  deter- 
mined not  to  hear  the  gossip  going  on  behind 
them.  Then  she  looked  at  Carl  whose  face  had 
reddened  from  annoyance  and  disgust  she  knew, 
though  with  inimitable  good  nature,  he  pre- 
served, at  all  events,  a  surface  calm  and  com- 
posure. 

He  took  out  his  note-book  and  pencil  and 
handed  it  to  her.  "  Now  is  your  opportunity  to 
do  some  reportorial  work  if  you  like, ' '  he  said, 
smiling.   "Items  and  incidents  are  not  lacking." 

' '  Noblesse  oblige, ' '  she  said,  with  a  low,  sil- 
very laugh,  her  whole  face  twinkling  with  fun, 
as  she  accepted  the  book  and  pencil,  then  wrote 
a  few  hurried  lines  in  French,  and  handed  it 
back  to  him.  He  smiled  as  he  read  the  penciled 
lines,  which  he  translated  thus : 

' '  Who  are  those  people  in  our  rear  ?  Their 
criticisms,  if  not  very  flattering,  are  certainly 
eminently  amusing.  I  wonder  if  it  would  make 
them  very  uncomfortable  if  they  knew  their  poor 
victims  were  so  near  by  a  ad  had  unavoidably 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  367 

overheard  what  was  not  intended  for  their  ears. 
I  have  a  fancy  of  letting  them  know  of  our  prox- 
imity. It  would  serve  them  right,  and,  perhaps, 
teach  them  to  be  a  little  more  careful  in  the  fu- 
ture when  and  where  to  discuss  their  neighbor 
and  his  belongings. ' ' 

After  he  had  read  it,  he  closed  the  book  and 
returned  it  to  his  pocket,  then  with  a  smiling 
glance  sidewise  over  his  shoulder,  said,  "  I'm 
quite  sure  I  have  not  the  honor  of  their  acquaint- 
ance. ' ' 

Almost  at  the  same  time  Priacipal  Cordell  rose 
to  make  some  remark ;  they  turned  to  listen,  and 
no  one  in  the  Gray  sons'  seat  was  sorry  that  the 
evening  entertainment  was  about  to  begin. 

Ten  days  after  this  event  Dr.  Leslie,  Carl  and 
Agnes  went  to  the  State  University  to  attend  the 
commencement,  and  soon  after  their  return,  Mrs. 
Grayson  announced  her  intention  of  going  to 
Morehead.  Dr.  Leslie  had  professional  engage- 
ments that  detained  him  at  home,  but  when  these 
were  discharged  he  would  follow  them  for  a  two 
weeks'  holiday  down  by  the  seashore. 


3(58  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTEE   XXXVI. 

It  was  a  brilliant  morning  in  June,  full  of 
warmth  and  sunshine,  the  birds  singing,  the  air 
sweet  with  the  mingled  scents  of  flowers,  and 
the  trees  in  their  full  summer  foliage. 

The  Gray  sons  were  going  to  the  seashore,  and 
while  the  little  party  waited  at  the  station  for 
the  train  which  was  to  convey  them  away,  Ag- 
nes especially  was  as  happy  as  the  days  were 
long,  bubbling  over  with  fun  and  high  spirits, 
and  chatted  gayly  with  first  one  and  then  another 
of  the  friends  who  had  come  to  bid  them  good- 
bye and  wish  them  ^^  bon  voyage.''^  Nellie,  as 
usual,  was  flitting  about  everywhere  in  a  restless 
and  impatient  fashion,  and  every  few  minutes 
asking  how  long  before  the  train  would  be  in ; 
while  at  the  further  end  of  the  waiting-room 
Ruth  stood  talking  to  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Dr. 
Leslie,  and  apparently  so  engrossed  as  to  take  no 
notice  of  what  was  passing  around  her.  Pres- 
ently, however,  she  was  attracted  by  a  voice 
near  her,  a  voice  which  sounded  strangely  famil- 
iar, and  which  she  thought  she  recognized ;  but 
at  that  moment  she  could  not  for  her  life  recall 
when  and  where  she  had  heard  it ;  and  turning 
suddenly  round,  from  some  impulse  she  could 
not  repress,  she  found  herself  face  to  face  with 
the  last  person  in  the  world  she  expected  to  see 
just  then— Harry  Hawleigh. 

With  a  flush  of  pleasure  upon  her  face  and  the 
light  of  a  great  surprise  in  her  eyes,  she  greeted 
him  cordially;  and  while  he  was  speaking  to 
Mrs.  Grayson  and  being  introduced  to  her  guard- 
ian,  her  mind    traveled  quickly  back  over  the 


IN    THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  369 

scenes  and  incidents  associated  with  their  first 
meeting  in  the  ' '  Land  of  the  Sky, ' '  two  years 
before. 

''I  hope  my  intrusion  will  be  forgiven/'  he 
was  saying  to  Mrs.  Grayson,  "•  but  I  only  came 
in  last  night  and  intended  giving  myself  the 
pleasure  of  calling  to-day,  but  casually  learned 
through  some  of  your  friends  that  you  are  leav- 
ing the  city  for  a  holiday;  yet  I'm  very  glad  to 
have  met  you  even  for  a  few  minutes." 

"  It  is  certainly  a  very  pleasant  surprise,  I  as- 
sure you, ' '  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  with  a  genial  smile, 
"  for  we  didn't  know  but  that  you  were  hun- 
dreds of  miles  away.''  She  hesitated  a  moment, 
then  said  quietly,  "  I  hope  we  will  find  you  in 
the  city  on  our  return,  Mr.  Hawleigh. ' ' 

"  I  should  enjoy  nothing  better,  and  I  think  it 
likely,  for  I  hope  to  effect  an  arrangement  soon 
that  will  result  in  a  fulfilment  of  my  wishes 
in  this  direction." 

"  We  will  be  glad  to  welcome  you  among  us, 
Mr.  Hawleigh,''  said  Dr.  Leslie,  looking  frankly 
into  the  face  so  bright  with  hope  and  purpose. 
Then  turning  to  Euth,  Mr.  Hawleigh  said : 

"  Well,  I  don't  fancy.  Miss  Arnold,  that  you 
are  going  to  the  seashore  health  seeking ;  if  so, 
outward  appearances  are  very  deceptive." 

' '  No,  not  exactly, ' '  she  returned,  looking  up 
into  his  face  with  that  wonderful  smile  he  had 
not  forgotten,  "■  but  Mrs.  Grayson's  health  needs 
recuperating,  and  we  hope  very  much  the  salt 
air  will  do  her  good. ' ' 

"  We  shall  expect  you  down  very  soon,"  were 
Mrs.  Grayson's  parting  words  to  her  brother,  as 
he  bade  them  good-bye.  "  I'm  afraid  you'll  find 
it  very  lonely  without  us,  and  all  by  yourself. 


370  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

too,"  she  added,  and  Dr.  Leslie  thought  the 
same,  as  he  stood  upon  the  platform  at  the  sta- 
tion a  minute  later  and  watched  the  train  glide 
past  him;  and,  catching  a  glimpse  of  a  sweet 
face  at  the  car  window — a  face  fairer  and  dearer 
to  him  than  all  others — he  raised  his  hat  above 
the  heads  of  the  moving  throng  and  bowed 
gracefully. 

Meanwhile,  as  the  train  on  which  the  Gray  sons 
had  departed  swiftly  sped  on  its  way  over  the 
short  railway  line  dividing  the  city  they  were 
leaving  behind  and  the  one  to  which  they  were 
hastening,  Ruth  scarcely  spoke,  but  Agnes  and 
Carl  had  kept  up  such  an  incessant  bantering 
and  fusilading  one  another,  that  Ruth's  silence 
was  not  commented  upon. 

"  Well  here  we  are  for  au  hour  or  more,"  said 
Carl,  as  the}^  descended  from  the  platform  of  the 
car  at  Greensboro,  where  they  were  to  be  de- 
tained for  one  hour,  and  made  their  way  to  the 
waiting-room, 

''  An  hour!  "  ejaculated  Agnes.  "•  If  there  is 
one  thing  more  than  another  that  bores  me  to 
death,  it  is  stopping  over  at  a  strange  place,  and 
waiting  for  a  next  train. ' ' 

"  Not  if  you  have  pleasant  company  ?  "  said 
Carl,  laughing. 

' '  Oh,  it  makes  no  difference ;  the  fact  remains 
the  same.     We  have  to  wait. ' ' 

' '  But  suppose  we  could  find  something  to  do 
to  kill  time?  "  he  asked,  smiling  in  a  way  that 
implied  a  suggestion. 

Agnes  looked  up  quickly,  her  eyes  questioning. 

"  I  have  an  idea.  I  was  going  to  suggest — "  ; 
he  paused  and  looked  at  his  mother,  smiling,  and 
Agnes  asked  hurriedly: 

''  What  ?     Why  don't  you  tell  me  ?  " 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  371 


i  k 


I  was  going  to  suggest  that  we  get  a  con- 
veyance and  drive  out  to  see  the  Guilford  Battle 
Ground.  It  is  about  four  or  five  miles  north  of 
the  city,  is  reached  by  a  first-rate  road,  and  with 
a  good  team  I  think  we  can  easily  make  the  dis- 
tance and  return  while  we  are  waiting  for  the 
next  train." 

' '  Surely  you  are  not  in  earnest,  Carl  ?  ' '  inter- 
posed Mrs.  Grayson.  "  Don't  think  of  such  a 
thing.  I'm  sure  you'll  not  have  time  to  go  and 
return  before  the  train  comes  in.  Of  course  I 
shouldn't  think  of  going  on  without  you  two; 
and  to  stay  over  until  to-morrow,  in  the  event 
you  were  left,  would  rather  upset  our  present 
arrangements. ' ' 

"  Oh,  I'm  going,  too,  Mamma,"  cried  Nellie, 
"  if  Carl  and  Cousin  Agnes  go.  Where  are  they 
going  ? ' ' 

"•  That's  what  we  didn't  intend  for  you  to 
know,  Nell."  Carl  said,  quietly. 

''  Certainly,  we  won't  think  about  going, 
Cousin  Helen,  if  you  think  best  for  us  not  to," 
returned  Agnes,  with  a  graceful  good -nature. 
' '  Yes,  it  would  be  decidedly  awkward  to  get  left, 
I  think  myself." 

' '  You  know  you  can  go  some  other  time,  my 
dear,"  said  Mrs.  Grayson,  encouragingly.  "  You 
wouldn't  have  time  to  do  more  than  drive  there 
and  back  were  you  to  go  now;  and  if  yoa'll  wait 
and  make  a  special  visit  to  the  place  and  spend 
several  hours,  I  think  you  will  enjoy  it  much 
more  and  feel  repaid  for  doing  so.  Now,  don't 
you  think  that  is  the  best  plan  V  " 

"I  do.  indeed.  Cousin  Helen,"  said  Agnes, 
warmly.  •• '  But  tell  me, ' '  she  went  on  in  an  ap- 
pealing tone,  "  what  is  there  so  attractive  about 


372  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

the  place  outside  of  its  historic  interest  ?  Of 
course  I  know  as  a  fact  of  history  that  this  bat- 
tle-ground was  the  site  of  the  memorable  'Battle 
of  Guilford  Court  House,'  fought  between  the 
American  forces  under  General  Green  and  those 
of  the  British  under  Lord  Corawallis — on — on, 
oh,  fiel  I  don't  remember  when.  I  never  could 
remember  dates." 

"  It  was  on  the  15th  of  March,  17S1,  httle 
Cousin,"'  interrupted  Carl.  "  I  do  believe  you 
would  forget  the  date  of  your  wedding  day. 

"Yes,  unquestionably,'"  she  said,  shrugging 
her  shoulders.  "  But  that  is  a  matter  of  supreme 
indifference  to  me  at  this  moment.  I  am  more 
interested  in  this  battle-ground  just  now.  Do 
keep  quiet  and  let  Cousin  Helen  tell  me  about  it. 
If  you  don't  wish  to  hear,  I'll  excuse  you." 

"  Thanks,  I'll  accept  your  dismissal  and  go 
out  and  have  a  smoke,"  he  said,  rising  and  mov- 
ing away.  Nellie  sprang  up  and  followed  him. 
Agnes  looked  after  his  retreating  figure  with  a 
little  amusement  in  her  bright  eyes ;  then  turn- 
ing to  Mrs.  Grayson,  said : 

"  Please  go  on.  Cousin  Helen.  Ruth  and  I  are 
ready  to  listen." 

"  Well,  I  can't  do  more  than  briefly  outline 
some  of  the  facts,'"  said  Mrs.  Grayson.  ''As  you 
know,  or  rather  as  Ruth  knows,  since  she  is  of 
course  better  acquainted  with  recent  North  Car- 
olina history  than  you  are,  my  dear,  some  years 
ago  a  stock  company  was  formed,  styled  the 
Guilford  Battle  Ground  Company— and  this  stock 
company  is  composed  of  some  of  the  most  prom- 
inent North  Carolina  gentlemen — for  the  benev- 
olent purpose  of  preserving  and  adorning  the 
grounds  on  and  over  which  the  Battle  of  Guil- 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  373 

ford  Court  House  was  fought,  and  erect  thereon 
monuments,  tombstones  and  other  memorials  to 
commemorate  the  heroic  deeds  of  the  American 
patriots  who  participated  in  this  battle  for  liberty 
and  independence.  The  purchase  of  the  land  was 
attended  with  great  difficulty,  for  some  of  the 
heirs  were  so  scattered  that  it  was  difficult  to  ob- 
tain deeds  from  them  all.  Well,  the  company 
has  erected  a  handsome  cottage,  in  a  beautiful 
white-ash  grove,  about  two  hundred  feet  from 
the  railway  and  highway.  The  house  is  taste- 
fully painted  and  presents  a  very  attractive  ap- 
pearance. There  is  a  keeper  always  present  to 
wait  on  visitors  and  give  them  information. 

"  Somewhere  on  the  grounds  there  is  a  beau- 
tiful polished  blue  marble  block  two  feet  square, 
with  a  circular  basin  in  the  centre,  which  forms 
a  spring.  The  adornment  of  this  spring  was  the 
generous  work  of  Mr.  W.  P.  Clye,  of  New  Yoi'k 
City,  whose  name  it  bears. 

' '  The  Leonidas  Springs  are  close  by,  with  their 
twin  bowls  of  gushing  freestone  water,  and  so 
called  for  Mr.  W.  Leonidas,  a  retired  merchant 
of  Philadelphia, 

"  The  quaint  old  sandstone  monument,  after 
the  fashion  of  1820,  which  was  placed  over  the 
remains  of  Brigadier- General  John  Sumner,  of 
Warren  County,  has  been  removed  by  the  State 
to  the  battlefield,  and  under  it  now  lies  all  that  is 
left  of  the  brave  and  skilled  officer,  who  led  the 
North  Carolinians  in  the  bloody  charge  at  Euta  w 
Springs.  The  monument  is  quite  attractive  and 
easily  seen  from  all  parts  of  the  field. 

' '  Then  there  are  other  handsome  monuments, 
a  large  paviMon  and  band-stand;  a  museum  con- 
taining relics    of  the  Revolutionary  War;  and 


374  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

many  improvements  about  the  beautiful  grounds. 
Of  course  it  will  have  a  celebrity  while  the  his- 
tory of  the  Revolution  is  remembered;  but  one 
seeing  it  to-day  would  never  imagine  that  it  was 
once  the  scene  of  carnage.  During  the  summer 
season,  it  is  a  great  resort  for  picnic  parties 
and — " 

"  Is  this  the  only  place  of  note  in  or  near  the 
city  ?  ' '  interrupted  Agnes,  with  an  impatience 
she  could  not  quell  betraying  itself  through 
her  interest. 

"  By  no  means/'  returned  Mrs.  Grayson,  with 
emphasis.  ' '  In  the  first  place,  I  would  say  that 
it  is  specially  noted  for  the  intelligence  and  cul- 
ture of  its  people,  and  its  many  churches  and 
fine  schools.  One  of  the  oldest  of  these  is  the 
G-refensboro  Female  College,  a  most  excellent  in- 
stitution of  learning ;  several  fine  graded  schools 
for  both  white  and  colored;  two  colored  high 
schools;  and  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  the 
State  Normal  and  Industrial  College,  recently 
established,  but  which,  by  reason  of  its  superior 
management  in  the  beginning  and  up  to  the 
present  time,  has  already  come  to  the  front  as 
one  of  the  very  finest  schools  in  the  South.  It 
has  accomlishepd  in  results  all  that  has  been  ex- 
pected of  it,  and  because  of  its  wide-awake  and 
progressive  spirit,  will  reflect  still  greater  honor 
upon  the  State.  And  again,  Greensboro  being 
the  greatest  railway  centre  in  the  State,  is  no 
doubt,  destined  to  be  one  of  the  largest,  if  not 
the  largest  city  in  the  State.  It  certainly  con- 
tains the  best  elements  for  a  great  city— it  has 
a  good  deal  of  capital,  a  great  amount  of  enter- 
prise, and  even  now  is  a  very  thriving,  hand- 
some place.     The  Southern  Finishing  Mills  near 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  375 

by  and  the  great  cotton  mills  at  Proximity, 
which,  by  the  way,  is  quite  a  little  village,  fur- 
nish remunerative  employment  for  a  very  large 
number  of  deserving  people. 

"  Greensboro  has  long  been  known,  too,  far  and 
near,  as  the  '  City  of  Flowers,'  because  the  yards 
and  gardens  of  the  citizens,  in  the  summer  sea- 
son, manifest  a  very  refined  and  elegant  taste  in 
this  respect. 

"Ah,  there's  our  train,"  she  added,  rising; 
"  we'll  have  to  hurry.  This  train  only  stops  a 
few  minutes,  and  we  must  get  seats  together  if 
we  can." 

They  managed  to  effect  this  arrangement  by 
reaching  the  vestibule  car  before  it  was  invaded 
by  the  rush  of  passengers  from  the  incoming 
Northern  train ;  and  as  soon  as  they  were  seated — 
Agnes  beside  Mrs.  Grayson,  with  Ruth  and  Carl 
fronting  them,  and  Nellie  and  Julia  just  in  their 
rear — Agnes  began  chatting  in  her  usual  happy, 
gleeful  way,  about  one  of  Mrs.  Grayson's  friends 
whom  they  had  met  at  the  station. 

"How  I  do  like  Miss  Goldsmith;  she  is  so 
pleasant  and  jolly.  I  can't  think  of  her  as  being 
an  old  maid.  The  very  idea!  What  a  pity  she's 
deprived  some  estimable  man  of  a  good  wife." 

Carl  threw  his  head  back  and  laughed. 

"  Look  here,  Agnes,  that  won't  begin  to  do.  A 
few  minutes  before,  to  Miss  Goldsmith's  face,  you 
were  endorsing  her  for  wearing  the  easy  yoke  of 
maidenhood,  and  now,  presto!  as  soon  as  she's 
vanished,  you  are  ready  to  put  upon  her  the 
shackles  of  matrimony;  oh,  consistency,  consis- 
tency! thou  art — " 

"Hush!  cynic,"  she  said,  giving  her  head  a 
little  toss.  "  I  wasn't  talking  to  you,  but  to 
Cousin  Helen." 


376  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


( ( 


All  right :  but  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart 
I  declare  I'm  not  a  cynic,  for  I  assure  you,  my 
dear  Cousin,  I  entertain  no  morose  and  contempt- 
uous views  and  tenets  on  human  nature.  Your 
real  cynic  has  the  qualities  of  a  surly  dog;  he 
snarles  and  is  captious,  but,  positively,  I"m  not*" ; 
and  with  that  he  turned  to  Ruth  and  began  an 
animated  conversation  with  her. 

The  deference  he  always  paid  to  Ruth  was  very 
different  from  that  which  he  paid  to  his  gay  and 
pretty  cousin. 

On  the  verv  first  dav  of  his  arrival  home,  and 
he  had  looked  into  the  marvelously  beautiful 
face  of  Ruth  Arnold,  a  strange,  sharp  thrill  shot 
through  his  heart — a  thrill  of  mingled  bhss  and 
pain — bliss  because  he  felt  that  she  was  his  ideal 
conception  of  a  perfect  woman,  just  the  woman 
he  could  love  with  the  whole  wealth  of  his  ar- 
dent, generous  natui'e;  pain  because  he  knew 
that  she  could  be  nothing  to  him,  yea,  less  than 
nothing  in  the  way  he  would  have  desired.  Stay- 
ing under  the  same  roof  with  her,  of  course  he 
was  compelled  to  meet  her  constantly  and  at 
every  turn;  and  yet,  knowing  his  weakness,  he 
never  sought  to  evade  any  meeting  with  her 
when  it  came. 

He  laughed  and  talked  with  her,  he  enjoyed 
listening  to  her  sweet  voice,  sometimes  walked 
with  her.  and  more  than  once  when  he  looked 
into  the  wonderful  depths  of  her  dark,  wistful 
eyes,  that  peculiar  haunting  sadness  made  his 
heart  throb  quicker,  while  it  threatened  to  en- 
slave him.  Yet,  whenever  his  heart  beat  the 
faster  under  the  spell  of  her  presence,  he  sub- 
dued it  with  a  will  so  strong  and  masterful 
that   no  one — and  least  of  all,   Ruth  herself — 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  377 

guessed  his  momentary  weakness.  He  knew 
what  was  due  his  uncle,  due  Ruth,  and  due  him- 
self. He  would  as  soon  Have  thought  of  hand- 
ling a  viper  as  to  try  to  win  a  love  which  was 
pledged  to  another,  and  which,  so  far  as  he  was 
concerned,  he  knew  would  only  end  in  failure, 
and  bring  to  him  humiliation  and  the  bitterness 
of  unavailing  remorse.  But  after  all  he  had  a 
human  heart — a  heart  so  human  that  its  pas- 
sionate impulses  would  not  always  yield  to  the 
dictates  of  his  stern  will. 

His  safest  course  would  have  been,  under  the 
circumstances,  to  fly  from  the  fascinating  dan- 
ger while  there  was  yet  time.  But  he  tacitly 
resented  the  bare  suspicion  that  there  was  dan- 
ger for  him,  and  over  and  over  again  he  would 
dismiss  all  apprehension  and  assure  himself  that 
in  spite  of  everything  he  would  wear  an  armor 
so  strong  that  he  would  be  proof  against  the 
wonderful  charms  and  fascinations  of  even  Ruth 
Arnold. 

But  as  he  talked  to  her  now  in  his  usual  grace- 
ful nonchalance  of  tone  and  manner,  which  sug- 
gested nothing  more  than  a  sincere  friendship, 
and  looked  down  into  her  perfect  face,  and  listened 
to  her  perfect  voice,  her  very  words  seemed  to  set 
themselves  to  the  tender  vibrations  of  his  heart. 
And  for  a  moment  "what  might  have  been" 
was  brilliantly  before  his  yearning  gaze.  Oh,  it 
is  so  hard  for  joyous  youth  to  draw  the  circum- 
ference of  its  loves  and  bouyant  hopes,  and  give 
up  the  beautiful  love-dreams  of  Ufe.  But  then — 

"  Love  is  ever  busy  with  his  shuttle; 
Is  ever  weaving  into  life's  dull  warp 
Bright,  gorgeous  flowers,  and  scenes  Arcadian." 


25 


378  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Yes,  it  was  to  be  renunciation,  he  said  to  him- 
self;  that  renunciation  with  which  our  hves  are 
said  to  begin ;  and  he  would  be  strong. 

At  Durham,  Agnes  turned  from  the  car  win- 
dow, out  of  which  she  was  gazing  and  asked, 
"  Is  this  Raleigh,  the  State  capital  ?  " 

"  No."  answered  Carl.  "  By-the-way.  I'll  let 
you  make  a  guess  what  place  it  is — but  before 
you  make  the  attempt  I'll  give  you  a  clue  if 
you'll  come  with  me  out  on  the  rear  platform  of 
the  car;  won't  you  and  mother  come  too,  Ruth  ?" 
he  asked,  rising,  and  glancing  from  one  to  the 
other.  "  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  see  some- 
thing I  wish  to  show  Agnes  ?  " 

"Yes,  all  come,"'  said  Ruth;  but  Mrs.  Gray- 
son excused  herself,  and  as  the  three  went  out 
on  the  platform,  Carl  pointed  to  a  large  picture 
on  a  splendid  brick  structure  which  they  had 
just  passed,  near  the  railway,  and  asked: 

"  Have  you  any  recollection  of  ever  seeing 
anything  like  that  before,  Agnes  ?  ' "  She  looked 
quickly  in  the  direction  indicated,  and  instantly 
her  eyes  kindled  with  a  surprise  that  was  amus- 
ing to  see. 

"Why,  of  course — over  in  Europe — we  saw  that 
flaming  advertisement  everywhere.  Can  it  be  ? 
And  so  this  is  Durham!  Don't  3^ou  remember 
that  Englishman  tauntingly  asking  you  one  day 
on  the  train,  on  your  calling  his  attention  to  a 
similar  sign,"  nodding  her  head  toward  it,  "  if 
Durham  were  so  large  as  London  ?  I  do,  aud  I 
remember  the  anwser  you  gave  him,  too — an 
answer  that  made  me  feel  proud  that  we  were 
Americans.  And  I  suppose  those  other  build- 
ings over  there  are  factories,  too?"  she  said, 
waving  her  fan  toward  a  number  of  handsome 
brick  buildings. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  379 

"Most  of  them — yes."  Then  added,  "Dur- 
ham is  one  of  the  best  advertised  towns  in  the 
State.  It  is  a  city  of  great  wealth  and  enterprise, 
too." 

A  httle  later,  when  they  reached  Raleigh,  the 
conversation  changed  into  another  channel  and 
became  general. 

"This  is  the  'City  of  Oaks,'  Agnes,"  said 
Ruth,  just  as  the  train  came  to  a  standstill. 

"And  what  is  it  famous  for  ?  "  she  asked,  with 
a  humorous  twinkle  in  her  eyes,  glancing  at 
Carl.  "  You  seem  to  have  your  State's  history 
in  detail  at  your  finger's  ends. "  Then  she  turned 
to  the  window  and  tried  to  see  out,  but  a  freight 
car  stood  on  the  track  and  obstructed  the  view. 

"  For  its  exceedingly  beautiful  and  lovely  wo- 
men, gallant  men,  and  charming  climate,"  Carl 
answered  promptly,  before  Ruth  had  time  to 
respond. 

"  And  you  should  have  added,  its  culture,  and 
its  refined  hospitality,"  said  Mrs.  (rrayson,  "  to 
say  nothing  of  its  conservative  business  enter- 
prises. You  know,  my  dear,"  she  continund  to 
Agnes,  "  that  the  city  is  named  in  honor  of  the 
most  ao^fjomplished  scholar  and  soldier  of  Queen 
Elizabeth's  time.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  who  was 
first  to  send  an  English  Colouy  to  the  New 
World.  The  streets  of  the  city  are  regularly  laid 
out,  and  are  shaded  with  such  magnificent  na- 
tive oaks,  that  it  is  vei-y  appropriately  called  the 
'  City  of  Oaks. '  Besides  many  handsome  resi- 
dences here,  there  are  a  number  of  magnifi.cent 
public  buildings  and  institutions  of  noble  chari- 
ties in  full  operation." 

At  Goldsboro,  that  pretty  city  so  noted  for  its 
important  industry  of  truck   farming,  there  was 


380  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

another  change  of  cars.  Hov^ever,  they  were 
not  detained  here  very  long. 

The  train  sped  swiftly  on  its  way,  leaving  the 
beautiful  hills  and  valleys  further  and  further 
behind,  past  pretty  towns  and  villages,  thun- 
dered through  dark  covered  bridges,  flew  across 
freshly  cut  wheat-fields,  where  the  yellow  shocks 
were  taking  on  a  deeper  gold  in  the  hot  rays  of 
the  meridian  sun. 

Agnes,  who  was  sitting  beside  the  window 
looking  out,  turned  suddenly  round  as  the  train 
stopped,  at  that  moment,  and  said,  "  Well,  this 
must  be  Wilmington,  isn't  it  ?  '" 

A  curious  amused  look  came  over  Carl's  face. 
"  If  I  didn't  think  you  were  jesting,  I  might  be 
surprised,"  he  answered,  teasingly,  "  Wilming- 
ton, you  know,  or  ought  to  know,  is  down  on 
the  coast,  and  one  of  the  largest  and  most  im- 
portant cities  in  North  Carolina.  "  This  is  New- 
bern,  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  United 
States.  It  was  here  the  seat  of  government  was 
first  located,  and  Governor  Tryon  built  his  pal- 
ace, then  the  finest  edifice  of  the  kind  on  the 
American  continent." 

"No?  Really?"  Agnes  asked,  appealing  to 
Ruth.  "  Remember,  I  can't  forget  that  Carl  is 
a  genuine  North  Carolinian,  and  likes  to  mag- 
nify his  State." 

'•Yes,  indeed,  it  is  true, '' Ruth  answered, 
laughing.  "  You  should  know  this  much  as  a 
J  natter  of  history. ' ' 

"  Well,  I  didn't,''  Agnes  confessed  candidly. 
"  I'm  not  up  in  your  State's  history  as  you  and 
Carl  are.  And  on  what  river  is  this  city  ?  "  she 
continued,  turning  to  the  window  again. 

"There  are  two,"  he  said,  "  the  Neuse  and  the 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  381 

Trent.  That  is  the  Neuse  over  there  forming  the 
eastern  boundary,  and  the  Trent,  the  southern 
boundary.  You  can  see  very  httle  of  the  city  from 
hjre.  It  is  beautifully  laid  off.  handsomely  built 
and  well  shaded ;  and  I  can  tell  you  something 
else  about  it.  Some  of  tlie  most  prominent  and 
leading  men  in  the  State  can  trace  their  origin 
from  this  city.  Then,  there  are  the  great  truck 
farms,  the  most  famous  in  the  South,  and — '" 

Agnes  iuterrupted  him  with  a  wave  of  her 
hand. 

' '  Delightful  Newbern  1  Happy  Ne  vvbernians ! ' ' 
she  said,  gayly.  ''  Mind  you  don't  make  me  so 
much  in  love  with  the  place  I'll  not  want  to  re- 
turn to  the  beautiful  Piedmont,  the  home  cf  my 
forefathers. ' ' 

"See,  there  comes  a  steamer,"  said  Ruth, 
looking  in  the  direction  of  a  large  vessel,  which 
was  yet  some  distance  off,  puffing  clouds  of 
smoke  up  against  the  sky.  ''I  wonder  where 
she  is  from  '? ' " 

"  Can't  tell  at  this  distance,"  said  Carl.  "Ah, 
the  time's  up — the  train  is  moving.  I  wish  we 
could  have  seen  that  steamer  come  up  to  her 
dock." 

"  Yes,  so  do  I,"  returned  Agnes,  then  relapsed 
into  silence. 

xlfter  a  time  the  train  slowly  slackened  up  in 
front  of  the  Atlantic  Hotel  at  Morehead.  For 
some  cause  it  was  three-quarters  of  an  hour  be- 
hind the  regular  schedule  time,  and  the  long  hot 
day  was  very  near  its  close  when  they  descended 
from  the  car  and  made  their  way  toward  the 
hotel. 

The  last  level  rays  of  the  sun  left  a  line  of 
quivering  gold  as  it  fell  upon  the  still  expanse  of 


382  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES:    OR, 

water  which  quite  surrouucled  the  hotel  building, 
and  far  away  upon  the  shadowy  margin  of  the 
sound,  where  a  shaft  of  sunlight  struck  upon 
the  wind-heaped  sand  hills,  gleaming  among  the 
green  marshes,  the  undulations  of  drifted  mounds 
looked  like  miniature  mountain  ranges  capped 
with  snow. 

"And  this  is  Moreheadl  "  said  Agnes,  as  she 
and  Ruth  and  Nellie  followed  Carl  and  Mrs. 
Grayson  to  the  hotel,  Julia  bringing  up  the  rear. 
"Well,  I'm  glad  we're  here  at  last.  I  do  hope 
we  shall  have  supper  right  away,  for  I  am 
tired  and  hungry ;  and  as  soon  as  I've  done 
ample  justice  to  the  Atlantic's  cuisine.  I  shall 
desert  you  all  and  go  to  bed.  I  should  not  think 
of  making  my  initial  debut  here  on  the  first 
ev^ening,"  she  said,  laughing,  "and  not  feeling 
thoroughly  rested  either.  What  shall  you  do, 
darling  ?' 'she  asked,  turning  to  Ruth,  as  they 
mounted  the  low  steps  leading  upon  the  veranda. 

But  her  answer  was  lost  amidst  the  gay  chat- 
ter and  pleasant  laughter  of  the  guests  who 
thronged  the  double  veranda  of  the  hotel,  many 
of  whom  had  found  friends  and  acquaintances 
amongst  the  new  arrivals,  and  were  greeting 
them  with  gracious  words  of  w^elcome.  The 
scene  presented  was  a  most  animated  and  pic- 
turesque one,  and  had  the  effect  of  frankness 
and  cordiality  and  good  companionship.  Some- 
where indoors  an  excellent  band  was  playing, 
and  the  girls  suddenly  felt  their  whole  musical 
natures  respond  to  the  well-remembered  strains. 

The  hotel,  as  usual  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
was  filled  with  guests — health,  as  well  as  pleas- 
ure seekers,  hundreds  of  teachers  from  all  parts 
of  the  State,  and  many  distinguished   visitors 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  383 

from  a  distance  in  attendance  upon  the  Teach- 
ers' Assembly,  that  splendid  organization  now 
holding  its  great  annual  convention  here. 

While  the  Grayson  party  waited  in  the  large 
hall-way,  surrounded  by  a  merry,  bustling  throng 
constantly  coming  and  going  with  jest  and  laugh- 
ter, Carl  was  gone  to  the  hotel  office  to  get  the 
keys  to  their  rooms.  When  he  returned  he  told 
them  there  was  no  need  to  remove  their  hats 
vintil  after  supper,  but  to  come  immediately  to 
the  dining-room  where  that  meal  was  being 
served. 

"  What,  just  as  we  are  ?  "  Agnes  exclaimed  in 
amazement,  throwing  up  her  dainty  hands  with 
a  slight  gesture  of  impatience.  "You  don't 
mean  it  ?  ' ' 

' '  Yes,  of  course, ' '  he  said,  smiling.  ' '  If  you're 
afraid  some  one  will  see  a  speck  of  dust  on  your 
face,  then  keep  your  veil  down. ' ' 

"  How  absurd !  "  she  returned,  pouting.  "How 
many  women  have  you  ever  seen  eating  with 
their  veils  drawn  ?  All  men  are  just  alike ;  they 
can't  see — . "  Just  then  a  cherry  voice  at  Carl's 
elbow  spoke  to  him,  and  turning  quickly  round 
he  fronted  a  medium -sized  gentleman,  with 
bright  eyes  and  genial  smile,  who,  after  Carl  had 
greeted,  he  introduced  to  his  mother,  Ruth  and 
Agnes  as  Colonel  Howard. 

"I'm  very  glad  to  meet  you,  Mrs.  Grayson, 
and  hope  you  and  the  young  ladies  will  be  here 
during  the  convention.  I  believe  you  will  find 
it  exceedingly  pleasant,  for  the  house  is  full  of 
very  elegant  and  charming  people." 

The  large  ball-room,  through  which  they  passed 
on  their  way  to  the  dining-room,  was  artistically 
decorated,  the  galleries  were   filled  with  hand- 


384  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

somely  dressed  ladies,  the  band  was  playing  a 
gay  polka,  while  half  a  dozen  couples,  in  full 
evening  dress,  whirled  radiantly  past  them, 

To  Nellie,  who  had  never  witnessed  anything 
like  this  before,  the  scene  was  like  a  great,  won- 
derful fairy-land.  It  was  all  so  lovely,  so  incon- 
ceivably beautiful  and  delightful,  she  thought, 
that  she  was  nearly  overpowered  with  delight. 
She  turned  and  looked  on  for  an  instant,  and 
then  clung  to  Carl's  protecting  arm,  her  little 
eyes  twinkling  and  her  whole  face  beaming  witli 
happiness. 

When  the  meal  was  over,  the  ladies  promptly 
withdrew  and  went  to  their  rooms,  and,  not- 
withstanding Nellie's  repeated  entreaties  to  be 
allowed  to  spend  "just  a  little  while"  in  the 
parlors,  under  Julia's  chaperonage,  Mrs.  Gray- 
son's firmness  gently  overruled  her,  she  soon  fell 
asleep,  and  the  Graysous  did  not  make  their  ap- 
pearance again  until  the  next  morning. 


TN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  385 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Before  the  end  of  the  first  week  of  their  so- 
journ at  the  seashore,  the  Graysons  had  become 
pretty  well  known. 

A  rumor  had  been  industriously  circulated, 
first  quietly  and  as  confidential  information — 
though  why  confidential  one  was  totally  at  a  loss 
to  conjecture — that  they  M^ere  enormously  rich ; 
and,  as  the  rumor  was  repeated  with  zest  from 
mouth  to  mouth,  it  not  only  gained  credence, 
but  the  bulk  of  the  Graysons'  fortune  also  gained 
proportionally  with  each  repetition  of  the  story. 

Certainly  it  could  not  be  other  than  gratifying 
to  the  Graysons'  what  an  amount  of  interest 
and  attention  they  received,  and  all  this,  too, 
without  arousing  the  least  jealousy  among  the 
other  guests. 

Thev  soon  found  themselves  overwhelmed  with 
honors  in  the  shape  of  invitations  to  almost  every 
variety  of  seaside  pastimes,  but  chiefly  for  ex- 
cursions to  the  many  places  of  interest  near  by, 
that  naturally  commanded  the  attention  of  visit- 
ors. A  week  after  their  arrival  at  the  seashore, 
quite  a  large  party,  made  up  of  the  guests  at  the 
Atlantic,  proposed  and  planned  an  excursion  to 
Fort  Macon — that  quaint  old  fort,  now  more  or 
less  ruinous,  on  a  wave- encircled  island  about 
three  miles  distant  from  the  hotel. 

The  boats  which  had  been  provided  for  the 
voyage,  had  been  made  snug  and  comfortable 
generally,  and  now  waited  to  receive  their  pre- 
cious freight  of  humanity.  When  it  came  to  the 
question  of  sorting  and  pairing  the  guests  for 
each  boat,  Ruth  found  herself  allotted  to  Carl, 


386  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

while  Agnes  was  paired  off  with  Mr.  Darrell,  one 
of  the  guests  at  the  Atlantic,  and  who  had  been 
in  devoted  attendance  upon  her  ever  since  her 
arrival. 

"  I  have  just  been  indulging  in  curious  specu- 
lations as  to  whom  we  were  to  have  for  escorts 
and  to  which  boat  we  are  assigned,"  said  Agnes, 
brightly,  as  Carl  and  Mr.  Darrell  come  up  at  that 
moment  to  take  them  to  the  boat. 

"We  are  going  in  the  Jessie  Arthur,''''  said 
Carl,  "■  about  thirty  of  us,  and  mother  is  to  chap- 
eron our  party.  The  rest  have  akeady  gone 
aboard  the  North  State  and  Rattlesnake,  with 
their  respective  chaperons,  Mrs.  Andrews  and 
Mrs.  McDaniel." 

' '  Well,  that  is  delightful,  that  we  are  going  in 
the  Jessie  Arthur,''^  said  Agnes,  with  a  glad  look 
of  surprise.  "I  thought  the  Barrington  party 
went  over  to  the  beach  in  her  this  afternoon. 
Somehow  I've  taken  a  fancy  to  the  Jessie  Ar- 
th  ur. ' ' 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  that  question  has  been  set- 
tled to  your  satisfaction,  Miss  Glenwood,"  said 
Mr.  Darrell,  and  then  added  something  in  a  dis- 
creet undertone  to  Agnes  as  they  walked  briskly 
away,  some  gaUant  compliment,  no  doubt,  for  it 
?<ent  a  rosy  flush  and  bright  smile  to  her  pretty 
face. 

"  I  thought  you  were  to  go  with  Miss  Rose 
Spencer,"  said  Ruth,  turning  to  Carl.  "  Now, 
I'm  afraid  the  whole  afternoon's  pleasure  has 
been  spoiled  for  you." 

"  How  ?     Why  so  ?  "  he  asked  quickly. 

"  Because  I  fancied  you  preferred  to  go  with 
her,"  she  answered,  candidly. 

"  By  no  means,"  he  returned,  with  more  em- 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  387 

Dhasis  than  he  intended.  "  I  would  not  have  had 
a  different  arrangement,  I  assure  you.  I'm  sorry, 
however,  if  you  are  disappointed?  " 

Ruth  looked  up  at  him  with  such  a  lovely  light 
in  her  dark,  wistful  eyes,  that,  for  the  moment, 
he  felt  the  restraint  under  which  he  held  his  feel- 
ings beginning  to  melt  away,  but  he  struggled 
bravely  with  himself.  Perhaps,  after  all,  he  was 
not  so  strong  as  he  had  thought  he  was. 

"Oh,  not  at  all,"  she  said,  simply,  and  as  they 
reached  the  boat,  she  gave  him  her  hand,  and 
with  a  light,  graceful  spring,  jumped  upon  the 
prow  of  the  little  craft. 

Instantly  half  a  dozen  seats  were  offered  her 
from  members  of  the  merry  party,  all  laughing 
and  talking  at  once  in  such  gay  confusion  that  she 
stood  for  several  moments  undecided  what  to  do. 

"It's  quite  certain.  Miss  Arnold,  that  you 
can't  accept  all  the  seats  offered  you,"  said  Mr. 
Meredith,  one  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  far  end  of 
the  boat,  ' '  so  allow  me  to  dissuade  you  from  ac- 
cepting any  of  them,  and  compromise  the  matter 
by  joining  us." 

"Oh,  yes  do —pray  do ! "  Came  a  chorus  of 
voices  from  the  same  direction. 

"I  suspect  the  truth  is,  Meredith,  you  want 
to  exchange  seats  with  some  one  else,"  said  a 
voice  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  boat. 

"  Not  if  Miss  Arnold  accepts  my  proposition, 
he  returned  promptly. 

"  Look  here,  Meredith,  I  should  just  like  to 
know  how  it  happens  that  you  are  not  provided 
for,  anyway, "  said  the  same  gay  masculine  voice. 
"  Was  it  a  matter  of  choice,  or  an  oversight 
on  the  part  of  the  committee  of  arrangements, 
that  you're  left  out  in  the  cold  ?  " 


55 


388  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Neither.''  he  laughed.  "  But,  unfortunately 
for  me,  there  wasn't  enough  fair  ixiaiclens  to  go 
round."  Then  waving  his  hand  to  Carl  and 
Ruth — "  A  couple  of  seats  waiting — be  glad  to 
have  you" 

"All  right,  Meredith;  thanks;  we'll  come.'" 
said  Carl,  answering  for  Ruth  and  himseJf,  and 
he  carefully  guided  her  across  the  rocking  boat. 

Just  as  it  swung  round  in  a  graceful  curve, 
and  drifted  out  into  the  current,  there  came  a 
slant  of  wind  and  suddenly  lifted  one  of  the  gen- 
tlemen's hats  from  his  head  and  bore  it  away, 
bobbing  over  the  water.  A  chorus  of  feminine 
shrieks  burst  forth  at  once,  while  the  owner  ut- 
tered an  expression  of  disgust,  and  despairingly 
watched ,  his  straw  chapeau  set  sail  over  the 
shimmering  waves,  perhaps  for  a  foreign  shore. 

"Well,  I'U— " 

' '  Surrender, ' '  finished  Miss  Spencer,  with  a 
mischievous  glance  at  the  hapless  owner.  "  You 
see,  Mr  Vernon,  I'm  a  mind  reader,  and  I  know 
just  what  you  were  going  to  say,"  she  said 
laughingly. 

The  boat,  which  had  been  gliding  swiftly  over 
the  foam-crested  waves,  with  sails  full  set,  and 
the  blue  waters  swirling  past  her  bows,  now 
rapidly  neared  the  coast,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
the  merry  party  disembarked  upon  the  island, 
over  which  brooded  a  sense  of  loneliness  and 
desolation. 

Near  by  was  a  row  of  small  cottages,  the  most 
pretentious  of  which  was  occupied  by  the  col- 
ored keeper.  As  the  visitors  approached  this 
house,  he  came  forward  and  received  thejh  cour- 
teously ;  and  after  telling  him  what  they  wished, 
he  accompanied  them  to  the  old  fort. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  389 

Unlocking  the  heavy  nail-studded  door  and 
passing  through  the  broad  archway,  they  found 
themselves  in  a  wide  passage  whose  walls  and 
vaulted  ceiling  were  dark  with  soot  and  coverc-d 
with  cobwebs.  Then  the  keeper  turned  to  the 
left  and  led  them  through  numerous  dimly- 
lighted  apartments,  in  many  of  which  the  brick 
and  mortar  had  fallen  away,  and  all  were  elab- 
orately draped  with  spider-webs.  He  had  a  bit 
of  history  to  tell  connected  with  every  room 
through  which  they  passed.  But  what  most  in- 
terested the  visitors  was  the  story  he  told  about 
several  distinguished  Southern  officers  who  were 
imprisoned  for  many  months  in  the  last  tv/o 
rooms  which  they  visited,  and  which  were  situ- 
ated in  the  rear  of  the  fort.  "  These  rooms  had 
been  handsomely  carpeted  and  furnished,"  he 
said,  "  during  their  occupancy  by  these  officers, 
and  they  were  allowed  to  have  not  only  the  best 
of  everything  that  could  be  procured  for  their 
physical  comfort  and  pleasure,  but  were  granted 
permission  by  the  Federal  officer  in  command  to 
retain  their  valets  to  attend  their  wants,  and 
while  the  sentinel  restlessly  paced  his  solitary 
beat,  these  favored  captives  ate,  drank  and  held 
high  carnival. "  This  story,  however,  lacks  con- 
firmation, and  the  possibility  of  fiction  about  it 
is  too  overpowering  to  be  literally  received  as  an 
historical  fact  on  mere  hearsay,  though  the  visi- 
tors received  it  from  the  intelligent  keeper  with 
ail  the  show  of  credulity  and  enthusiasm  he 
could  have  hoped  for. 

Once  more  out  in  the  open  air,  they  cautiously 
climbed  up  a  steep  stone  stairs  to  the  rampart, 
underneath  which  were  duiigeons  so  dark  and 
noisome  that  no  one  seemed  inquisitive  enough 
to  explore. 


390  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

The  golden  glory  of  the  afternoon  sunshine 
flooded  the  waters.  Out  across  the  broad  sea 
the  snowy  waves  came  rolling  in,  tossing  the 
white  spray  high  in  air  as  they  broke  upon  the 
outer  reefs  of  the  promontory. 

"  Isn't  it  grand  and  beautiful?"  said  Ruth. 
She  had  been  standing  perfectly  silent  for  the 
last  five  minutes,  looking  out  over  the  heaving 
waters  to  where  the  sea  and  sky  lay  in  a  level  line, 
and  where  rose  the  tower  of  a  lighthouse,  soli- 
tary and  gray. 

"Yes,  beautiful — very  beautiful,'"  Carl  re- 
turned, without  removing  his  eyes  from  the 
sweet  face  before  him.  and  upon  which  he  had 
been  gazing  with  a  look  of  intense  admiration, 
instead  of  upon  the  sea. 

Euth  turned  to  him,  her  face  glowing  with 
the  glad  sense  of  abounding  life,  but  chei-ked 
herself  abruptly,  for  she  saw  something  in  CarPs 
face  she  had  never  seen  before,  something  of 
whose  meaning  there  could  be  no  doubt;  and  in- 
voluntarily she  put  out  her  hand  as  if  to  ward 
off  a  blow.  No  words  could  have  silenced  so 
well  whatever  lie  might  have  longed  to  say  as 
this  gesture  of  protest  from  her;  but  his  lace 
was  smiling  and  his  voice  steady  as  he  said: 

"  I  see  the  others  have  left  us.  What  do  you 
say  to  our  exploring  the  old  Confederate  hos- 
pital ?  " 

Ruth's  eyes  followed  the  direction  of  his  ges- 
turing hand. 

"  I  don't  see  how  we  clearly  can,  through  that 
tall  grass." 

"  Oh,  easy  enough.  There  is  a  sheep  path 
which  you  cannot  see  from  here,  and  we  can  fol- 
low that  and  it  will  bring  us  directly  to  the  okl 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  391 

building.     It  is  worth  your  while,  I  think.     Do 
you  care  to  go  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  believe  I  do,"  she  said,  giving  him 
her  hand  for  him  to  assist  her  down  the  steps. 
' '  How  dreary  and  desolate  it  looks, ' '  she  con- 
tinued as  they  wandered  first  through  a  bit  of 
waist-high  grass,  then  turned  into  a  narrow 
sheep  path  which  brought  them  to  the  old  ruins, 
which,  on  a  nearer  approach,  showed  all  the 
desolation  of  decay. 

An  upper  and  lower  veranda  ran  around  the 
entire  building,  but  the  dilapidated  condition  of 
the  stairway  prevented  their  ascending  to  the 
upper  one,  where  they  would  have  had  a  mag- 
nificent view  of  the  sea.  As  they  sauntered 
round  the  ancient  edifice  and  peered  curiously 
through  the  window  frames,  for  many  years 
guiltless  of  glass,  into  the  low-ceiled  rooms,  it 
was  easy  to  dream  one's  self  back  a  quarter  of  a 
century  and  figure  the  sick  soldier  in  his  narrow 
bunk  filling  the  room  with  his  groans,  while  the 
silent  nurse  patiently  administered  to  his  needs. 
The  very  sight  of  these  crumbling  chambers  im- 
parted to  the  visitor  the  keenest  sense  of  loss 
and  desolation. 

Ruth  sighed  and  turned  away,  when  suddenly, 
from  some  hidden  corner  ol  the  building,  came 
a  peculiar  noise  which  made  her  pause  in  a  puz- 
zled silence. 

"What  do  you  suppose  it  is?"  she  asked, 
turning  to  Carl 

"Ghosts,"  he  said,  a  twinkle  of  fun  in  his 
eyes,  which  reminded  her  so  much  of  a  pair  of 
handsome  eyes  she  was  already  impatient  to  see, 

Ruth  smiled.  "The  idea;  but  really  I  am 
very  much  perplexed."     While  they  stood  wait- 


392  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

ing  three — five  minutes,  speculating  about  the 
strange  noise,  suddenly  there  came  a  loud  crash 
in  the  rear  of  the  building,  and  the  next  moment 
a  flock  of  startled  sheep  rushed  helter-skelter  past 
them  down  the  narrow  pathway  which  they  had 
come,  and  disappeared. 

Ruth  gave  a  perceptible  start,  but  said,  smil- 
ing, "  What  a  pity  those  sheep  have  come  upon 
the  scene  and  spoiled  what  might  have  been  a 
very  harmless  ghost  story.  How  Agnes  would 
have  enjoyed  it." 

"I  don't  fancy  so,"  he  returned  carelessly. 
*'  Agnes  frankly  admits  that  she  is  an  arrant 
coward. ' ' 

They  now  turned  and  retraced  their  steps,  and 
as  they  were  passing  the  fort  Ruth  stopped  a 
moment  and  with  thoughtful  eyes  glanced  about 
her.  She  was  paler  than  usual,  yet  it  was  a  pal- 
lor that  enhanced  the  delicate  purity  of  her  com- 
plexion. 

"  How  lovely  this  must  be  at  night  when  the 
soft  rays  of  the  moon  fall  peacefully  over  these 
ruins — or,  to  put  it  poetically,  '  when  the  full 
moon  is  threading  this  deserted  court  with  sil- 
ver sandals.'  I  almost  regret  that  we  cannot 
remain  and  see  the  place  under  the  enchantment 
of  moonlight." 

"  Have  no  hesitancy,  I  beg  you,  to  command 
my  services  for  a  moonlight  sail.  Let  me  be 
your  gondolier,  Ruth,"  he  said  ardently,  turn- 
ing his  face  to  her,  kindling  with  hope,  eager- 
ness, and  that  something  which  had  flashed  out 
once  before  from  under  the  genial  brightness  of 
his  nature.  Something  in  his  tone,  too,  soft 
and  tender  and  thrilling,  made  her  turn  sud- 
denly and  look  at  him,  and  again  she  saw  that 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  393 

look  iu  his  eyes  which,  uatil  to-day,  she  had 
heen  so  blind  to  see,  so  busy  had  her  mind  and 
heart  been  with  a  more  engrossing  subject.  The 
revelation  came  to  her  with  a  thrill  of  pain  in- 
stead of  ecstatic  joy,  and  for  one  brief  moment 
she  felt  powerless  to  appeal  against  that  silent, 
suppressed  passion,  which,  despite  all  Carl's 
efforts,  had  leaped  into  his  eyes,  his  tone  and 
manner,  and  betrayed  him. 

The  smile  faded  from  her  face,  and  a  look  of 
pained  regret  flitted  across  it. 

Carl,  regarding  her  intensely,  read  the 
thoughts  that  were  passing  in  her  mind  as  easily 
as  those  of  an  open  book,  and  the  next  instant 
her  sense  of  gravity  appeared  likewise  to  have 
fallen  upon  him.  From  her  inner  consciousness 
she  tried  to  frame  an  answer— to  sav  somethins: 
that  would  not  carry  her  seemingly  beyond  the 
bounds  of  kindness,  but  she  remained  silent  and 
the  speech  died  upon  her  trembling  lips. 

She  made  a  movement  to  withdraw  her  cap- 
tiv^e  hand  from  his  arm.  but  the  next  moment 
his  fingers  closed  upon  it,  and  almost  reverently 
he  carried  it  to  his  lips.  Then,  looking  into  her 
flushed  face,  with  a  sort  of  protecting  tender- 
ness he  bent  toward  her,  still  holding  her  throb- 
bing palm,  and  while  inwardly  struggling  for 
self-mastery,  said  gently: 

"  Ruth  Arnold — Ruth,  don't  be  afraid — trust 
me — I  am  indeed  your  friend — do  not  doubt  it. 
It  matters  not  hov/  deep  and  strong  the  emotion 
you  have  awakened  in  my  heart — and  heaven 
knows  it  has  been  a  delight  amounting  almost 
to  agony — how  sensibly  that  emotion  has  in- 
creased from  day  to  day,  beyond  my  power  of 
control,   or  how   vividly  that  flame   of   honest, 

26 


394  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 

unequivocal  admiration  may  burn,  yet,  I  assure 
you,  I  would  sooner  perish  than  ask  you  to  give 
me  something  warmer  and  better  than  your 
friendship- — than  ask  you,  even  in  the  ardor  of  my 
impetuosity,  to  be  disloyal  to  one  of  the  noblest 
and  best  of  men.  I  do  not — cannot  believe  that 
I  wrong  him  or  you  in  making  this  avowal 
of  my  hopeless  love;  a  love  which,  because  I 
know  it  is  hopeless,  and  have  knov/n  from  the 
very  first  that  the  end  must  be  a  requiem  to  me, 
I  shall  in  time  conquer.  I  believe  there  was 
sufficient  occasion  to  call  forth  this  confession, 
and  I  believe,  too,  that  now  I've  made  clear  my 
feelings  toward  you,  I  shall  be  better  able  to  re- 
sign myself  to  the  fate  which  lies  before  me— a 
fate  which  will  separate  you  from  me,  while  I 
go  out  into  the  wide  world  and  try  to  win  a  place 
for  myself  among  men.  Even  if  I  had  a  right 
to  love  you,  Ruth,  and  you  did  not  return  my 
love,  I  should  not  blame  you ;  and,  I  had  almost 
said,  neither  would  I  ask  you  to  try.  Do  not 
misinterpret  my  meaning.  It  is  simply  because 
I  believe  that  true  love  makes  no  demands  and 
is  divine.  I  would  not  marry  a  woman  unless 
she  loved  me,  and  certainly  I  should  have  to  be 
swayed  by  the  same  dominant  emotion,  or  I'm 
sure  I  should  be  miserable^ — wretched,  indeed.'" 

He  was  silent  a  while,  and  in  those  few  min- 
utes he  had  formed  a  decision  which  was  fixed 
and  immutable.  Ruth  did  not  answer,  but 
turned  and  looked  at  him,  and  their  eyes  met. 
The  cloud  had  cleared  from  his  brow,  and  there 
were  indications  of  strength,  firmness  and  power 
undeiiying  the  almost  womanly  sweetness  of  his 
smile  which  she  had  hardly  noticed  before. 

"  Lfisten  to  me,  Ruth,"  he  resumed  warmly; 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  395 

"  I  am  by  uo  iiieaiis  a  self-sacrificing  saint,  you 
know,  but,  if  it  please  heaven,  whatever  the 
conflict  in  my  breast  or  however  much  I  may 
suffer,  I  will  prove  myself  worthy  to  sustain  my 
family  name  and  honor,  and  always  be  your  con- 
stant and  loyal  friend."' 

Ruth  felt  that  he  v/ould  do  as  he  had  said,  and 
she  looked  up  at  him  with  a  smile  that  might 
have  comforted  the  most  disconsolate,  while  her 
sympathetic  eyes  broke  through  her  habitual 
self-restraint. 

'•  Ho^'  glad  I  am  to  see  you  so  brave  and 
strong,  Carl.  Believe  me,  you  will  ever  have 
my  absolute  trust  and  friendship,  and  I  can't 
help  believing  that  some  day  you  will  win  a  far 
better  wife,  who  will  love  you  and  make  your 
life  happier  than  I  ever  could  have  done.'' 

As  they  strolled  on  to  the  boat,  a  ])]easant 
breeze  was  blowing  off  the  shore,  the  waves 
washed  with  a  musical  hiss  against  the  boat,  the 
sea  gleamed  with  snow-white  flashes,  and  the 
smell  of  the  salt  air  was  delicious. 

As  the  boat  glided  merrily  over  the  salt  water, 
a  quartette  of  gentlemen  began  to  sing  in  rich 
melodious  voices  a  livelv  boat-song.  In  the  in- 
terest  of  the  song  the  ladies  ceased  talking  and 
sat  listening.  Miss  Raymond,  a  gay,  fascinating 
blonde,  with  pretty,  doll  like  features,  leaned 
forward,  gracefully  posing,  while  the  baby  blue 
eyes  sparkled  in  responsive  sympathy. 

"  \Yhere  did  you  learn  that  V  "  she  asked,  look- 
ing straight  at  Carl,  as  the  gentlemen  finished 
the  song. 

''  In  Venice,"'  he  said.     ''  Do  you  like  it  ?  "' 

"  Oh,  very  much.  It  recalls  many  pleasant 
memories.'" 


396  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

' '  '  Love  teacheth  music, '  so  says  Plato, ' '  re- 
turned Carl  significantly,  smiling. 

"  Yes,  and  'song  brings  of  itself  a  cheerfulness 
that  wakes  the  heart  to  joy.'  "  she  quoted,  felic- 
itously, blushing  slightly,  for  she  thought  that 
Carl's  meaning  involved  a  personal  application. 

The  sun  was  going  down  in  a  pomp  of  daz- 
zling glory,  but  by  the  time  the}^  landed  on  the 
pier  at  Morehead  the  darkened  bay  reflected  the 
radiance  of  a  full  moon,  making  a  pathway  of 
light  across  the  dusky  waters. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  L^9T 


CHAPTER  XXXA'III. 


On  the  day  following  the  excursion  to  Fort 
Macon,  in  the  afternoon,  Mis.  Grayson  being- 
otherwise  engaged,  Carl  proposed  that  Ruth, 
Agnes  and  himself  should  go  for  a  sail  together. 

''  Yes,  just  we  three,''  Agnes  agreed,  eagerly. 
"  I  shall  be  glad  to  vary  the  monotony  of  frivo- 
lous festivities  and  the  crowd  of  faces.  I  find  Fn) 
living  at  too  rapid  a  pace ;  too  much  activity, 
too  much  excitement — one's  physical  endurance 
must  give  out  sometime,  and  mine  will,  I  know, 
even  before  pleasures  begin  to  grow  stale,  if  I  go 
on  at  this  rate.  There's  Ruth,  a  darling,  why 
she's  always  as  bright  and  fresh  as  a  morning- 
rose,  and  positively,  I  don't  believe  she  ever  has 
an  uncomfortable  moment — while  poor  me — , " 
sighing. 

''  While  '  poor  me  '  is  nothing  but  a  butterfly, 
with  nothing  to  do  but  be  happy  and  make  others 
happy. ' '  Carl  laughed  and  finished  for  her.  • '  I 
suspect  the  truth  is,  little  Cousin, ' '  he  pursued, 
"  that  somebody's  heart  has  slipped  away  from 
her  keeping — most  natural  thing  in  the  world, 
you  know,  and  that  same  somebody  is  conceal- 
ing the  secret  from  me.  Wherefore,  Cousin  ? 
AVhy  nottellme?*' 

They  were  standing  on  the  pier  together  wait- 
ing for  Ruth,  and  involuntarily  Carl  glanced  in 
the  direction  she  was  to  come. 

''  You  remember  your  promise,''  he  went  on, 
"  to  tell  me  all,  everything,  when  you'd  found 
your  hero.  Pray,  who  is  the  happy  knight  who 
has  wooed  and  won  my  pretty  cousin  from  me  ? 
Won't  you  tell  me — won't  you  trust  me  with  his 


398  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

name?     If  'muni's'  the  word,  honestly.  I'll  not 
tell  a  living  soul." 

Agnes  did  not  answer,  but  looked  him  in  the 
eyes — a  look  that  bathed  her  whole  face  in  a  rose 
flush  of  happiness.  He  went  toward  her  and 
took  her  hand  with  the  familiar  cousinly  kind- 
ness he  had  growai  into  with  her.  and  looked 
closer  at  her. 

"And,  sure  enough,  I  am  right;  I  thought 
so,"  he  said,  dropping  his  bantering  tone.  "  You 
will  tell  me  all  about  it — sometime,  won't  you  ? 
I  am  glad,  little  Cousin,  if  you  have  chosen 
wisely;  and  if  he  who  has  brought  this  new 
sweet  meaning  into  your  life  is  worthy  of  your 
love  and  is  brave  and  true,  I  congratulate  you. 
But  if  he  is  not  what  he  should  be,  and  should 
ever  cause  you  a  needless  heartache.  I  would — , " 
he  stopped  abruptly,  and  a  quick  look  of  pain 
flashed  across  his  face — "No,  I  won't  say  it; 
there  are  things  best  left  unsaid. " 

His  expression  became  very  grave  and  reso- 
lute, but  he  did  not  know  that  his  words  pained 
her  inexpressibly,  and  made  her  suddenly  feel 
that  her  whole  future  was  a  dreary  blank. 

She  looked  so  lovely  as  she  stood  there  in  her 
dainty  prettiness  and  easy  grace,  with  the  sun- 
shine touching  her  golden  hair,  that  he  could  not 
help  saying: 

'•  I  did  not  know  how  much  I  loved  you  until 
now,  pretty  Cousin;  but  remember,  it  matters 
not  who  claims  this  little  hand,  I  shall  always 
be  your  friend ;  and  should  trouble  ever  come  to 
mar  your  young  and  beautiful  life,  don't  forget 
I'll  do  anything  in  the  world  I  can  to  help  you. 
I  pledge  you  my  w^ord — . ' ' 

He  left  the  sentence  unfinished,  for  just  then 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  391) 

Ruth  came  up,  and  though  Carl  had  been  watch- 
ing his  cousin  closely,  he  neither  saw  nor  sus- 
pected her  real  feelings.  Not  even  Ruth  had  a 
hint  of  the  truth. 

She  and  Carl  imputed  Agnes'  unusually  gay 
spirits  to  a  very  different  cause  altogether,  than 
the  real  one. 

On  the  way  to  the  boat,  her  talk  was  bright 
and  witty  and  her  spirit  of  fun  so  inspiring  that 
it  readily  communicated  its  contagion  to  them. 

When  they  got  into  the  boat,  Agnes  suggested 
that  they  row  across  to  Beaufort. 

"  Mr.  Darrell  says  it's  such  a  quaint  old  place, ' ' 
she  said;  "  that  on  account  of  the  dampness  of 
the  air,  the  houses  are  covered  with  lichen  and 
moss,  which  gives  the  town  a  very  venerable  ap- 
pearance, and  the  streets  are  grass-grown  and 
singularly  silent." 

'  •  Whew !  ' '  whistled  Carl,  slowly,  tossing  the 
end  of  his  cigar  into  the  water  and  lighting  a  fresh 
one.  ' "  Have  you  never  been  there  ?  You  sur- 
prise me.     It's  a  real  romantic  place.'' 

"  So  IVe  heard,"  she  answered,  "  but,  never- 
theless, I've  never  visited  the  city,  even  in  the 
light  of  that  knowledge." 

"  Ruth  has,  I  know,"  he  said,  turning  to  her. 

"  Yes.  several  times;  and  I  wonder,  too,  why 
it  is  that  a  town  having  so  many  charming  nat- 
ural advantages,  has  not  grown  into  a  great  city. 
I  have  been  told  that  before  the  war  the  people 
were  very  wealthy ;  but  the  loss  of  their  property 
seems  to  be  a  matter  of  small  consequence  in  one 
way  at  least,  for  the  people  still  enjoy  the  amen- 
ities of  refined  and  cultivated  society." 

"  Yes,  it  is  an  interesting  old  place  in  many 
particulars,"  said  Carl,   tentatively,  holding  his 


400  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

cigar  between  his  fingers,  and  watching  the  daz- 
zUng  white  foam  churn  up  about  the  prow  of 
the  boat. 

As  soon  as  they  landed  they  walked  leisurely 
along  the  street  on  and  near  the  water-edge, 
where  many  departments  of  the  market  were  to 
be  seen. 

Cui'ious  carts  loaded  with  market  stuff  and 
drawn  by  small  ponies  were  standing  in  front  of 
the  shops,  while  the  women  deftly  arranged 
their  wares  of  fruits,  flowers,  fisl^  and  vegetables. 

The  houses  they  passed  had  gabled  roofs  aud 
dormer  windows,  and  many  had  ivy  and  gay 
flowering  vines  trained  up  their  fronts. 

Presently  they  reached  the  cemetery,  which 
was  between  and  in  the  rear  of  two  Protestant 
churches — a  wild,  picturesque  spot  with  beauti- 
ful flowers,  and  gnarled  trees  of  water-oaks,  cov- 
ered in  luxuriant  ivy  often  hanging  in  swaying 
festoons  quite  to  the  ground,  and  which  gave  an 
air  of  quaintness  and  romantic  beauty  to  the 
place. 

Here,  too,  nature  and  ai't  were  pleasantly 
mingled,  and  one  could  spend  some  quiet  hours 
very  entertainingly  wandering  through  this  an- 
cient '  city  of  the  dead, '  reading  the  fading 
epitaphs  on  the  monuments  of  those  long  since 
departed,  while  on  others  the  ruthless  finger- 
prints of  time  had  almost  obliterated  the  archaic 
inscriptions,  many  of  which  they  tried  in  vain 
to  decipher. 

"  Now,  here  is  the  monument  we  are  looking- 
for,  the  one  that  marks  the  grave  of  Captain 
Wulff, "  said  Carl,  stopping  near  a  square,  rough 
slab  of  white  marble,  engravened  around  with  a 
trailing  wreath  of  ivy  leaves,  and  surmounted 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  -tO] 

by  a  plain,  white  marble  rross  two  feet  in  height. 
On  the  face  of  the  smooth  tablet  sunk  in  the 
slab,  Agnes  read  aloud  Ihe  following  inscription: 

"To 
The  Blessed  Memory 

of 
Christian  Wulff' 

Captain 
In  the  Royal  Danish  Navy. 

Born 
In  Copenhagen  in  Denmark, 
July  31st,  1810; 

Died 
In  Beaufort  ,Iune  7,  1856. 
'  He  is  not  here  but  risen.'  " 

The  cemented  red  brick  wall,  which  enclosed 
the  mound,  was  fast  crumbling  away,  the  short 
marble  foot-slab  was  tilted  to  one  side  and  the 
monument  was  weather-stained  and  thickly  cov- 
ered with  gray  lichen. 

Ruth  stooped  anH  plucked  some  of  the  lichen 
from  the  slab  and  gathered  a  few  wild  grasses, 
which  grew  tall  and  rank  about  the  neglected 
spot. 

''  Certainly  I  should  not  like  to  come  here 
alone,"  said  Agnes,  breaking  the  silence,  "and 
I  think  we  would  better  be  going  now;  we've 
seen  all  there's  to  be  seen  here." 

That  evening  a  grand  reception,  complimentary 
to  its  guests,  was  given  at  the  Atlantic  Hotel. 

Nellie  was  everywhere,  and  it  seemed  that 
she  was  in  many  places  at  once,  and  as  many 
moods  as  places.  Mrs.  Grayson  had  several  times 
put  forth  a  restraining  hand  to  detain  her  by 
her  side,  but  the  next  moment  she  would  flit 
away  through  the  crowd,  good-naturedly  jost- 
ling some  one  aside,  and  the  next  instant  expend- 
ing a  good  deal  of  enthusiasm  on  an  acquaint- 
ance whom  she  chanced  unexpectedly  to  meet. 


402  UNDER    GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Ruth,  v^atching  her  with  amused  eyes  from 
the  central  gallery,  presently  saw  her  rush  sud- 
denly forward,  throw  her  dimpled  arms  with  an 
enthusiastic  embrace  around  somebody's  neck 
and  exclaim: 

"  Oh,  Uncle  Ralph,  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you.  I 
thought  you  were  never  coming.  It  seems  such 
an  awfully  long  time  since  I  saw  you.  Why 
didn't  you  come  sooner  ?  " 

Suddenly  Ruth's  pulse  seemed  to  stand  still, 
and  the  next  moment  she  was  struggling  to 
crush  dovvn  the  surging  emotions  which  almost 
overcame  her.  She  saw  the  tall,  broad-shoul- 
dered '  somebody'  stoop  and  kiss  Nellie  twice  on 
the  cheek,  say  something  to  her  in  a  caressing 
tone  which  she  could  not  catch,  and,  when  he 
lifted  his  head  she  looked  upon  the  handsome 
face  of  her  guardian.  He  was  smihng — his  usual, 
genial,  courteous  smile.  Mrs.  Grayson  went  for- 
ward and  greeted  him,  and  then  Carl,  who  with 
affectionate  deference  laid  one  hand  upon  his 
shoulder  and  with  the  other  shook  his  uncle's 
warmly. 

"Uncle  Ralph!  How  are  you?  There's  no 
need  for  us  to  say  how  glad  we  are  to  see  you." 
Dr.  Leslie  stood  talking  some  moments  to  the 
group  gathered  around  him,  while  his  eyes 
glanced  eagerly  through  the  room. 

It  was  either  Ruth's  fixed  gaze,  or  Dr.  Leslie's 
natural  curiosity — for  be  it  understood  that  this 
Eveish  propensity  is  as  strongly  inherent  in  the 
mind  masculine  as  the  mind  feminine— that 
compelled  him  to  look  up — at  any  rate  he  did, 
and  some  weight  seemed  to  fall  suddenly  from 
him,  and  a  softer  look  crept  into  his  eyes,  and 
for  one  brief  moment  Ruth  held  his  tender  gaze 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  403 

with  the  lustrous  shining  of  her  own.  Agnes 
caught  the  magnetic  flash  that  passed  between 
them,  and  smiled  involuntarily.  Then,  watching 
the  dark  eyes  beside  her,  her  own  still  following 
him,  as  he  withdrew  his  own  gaze  slowly,  she 
mentally  decided  that  if  Ruth  Arnold  were  not 
one  of  the  happiest  women  in  existence,  it  would 
not  be  the  fault  of  Ralph  Leslie. 

Carl  had  told  his  uncle  that  Ruth  and  Agnes 
would  meet  him  in  the  vestibule  adjoining.  Dr. 
Leslie  was  already  there,  standing  at  the  foot  of 
the  stairway,  one  arm  resting  on  the  balustrade. 
Agnes  was  the  first  to  reach  him,  and  without 
speaking,  bent  forward  from  the  step  and  kissed 
him. 

"  I  can't  tell  you  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you," 
she  said,  her  face  beaming  with  smiles. 

"  Thank  you.  I'll  believe  it  from  your  wel- 
come,"' he  said,  with  a  pleasant  laugh,  extend- 
ing his  hand.  "  You  are  looking  remarkably 
well  this  evening,  Agnes.  Is  it  the  sea  air  that 
has — , "  but  what  he  intended  to  say,  Agnes 
was  left  to  conjecture,  for  Ruth  had  put  out  her 
hand,  which  Dr.  Leslie  took  in  a  fervent  clasp, 
and  now  she  was  listening  to  his  warm  greeting 
with  that  pretty  air  of  shyness  which  lent  such 
a  charm  and  fascination  to  her  whole  manner, 
and  which  her  guardian  thought  so  bewitching. 

Outwardly  perfectly  composed,  yet  she  felt  as 
if  the  very  floor  heaved  beneath  her,  and  she 
would  have  given  anything  to  have  escaped  the 
ordeal  of  greeting  her  guardian  in  a  crowd  and 
with  so  many  eyes  fixed  upon  her. 

"Cousin  Ruth,"  exclaimed  Nellie,  suddenly, 
her  roving  eyes  taking  in  everything,  "  why 
didn't  you  kiss  Uncle  Ralph,  too  ?     All  the  rest 


404:        UNDER  GOLDEN  SKIES',  OR, 

of  US  did.  Now,  I  don't  believe  you  are  a  bit  glad 
to  see  him.""  Kuta  flushed  criiuson.  while  Carl, 
as  if  to  cover  Nellie's  embarrassing  question, 
hastily  interposed : 

"  Mrs.  Hawkins,  allow  me  to  introduce  you  to 
my  cousin.  Miss  Glenwood — and  Mr.  Hawkins, 
Miss  Glenwood.  I  think  you've  met  Mr.  Haw- 
leigh,  oh,  where  is  he'" — then  turning  to  Ruth, 
added,  "Mrs.  Hawkins  has  been  telling  me  about 
her  meeting  you  two  years  ago." 

Dr.  Leslie  and  Agnes  led  tlie  way  to  the  din- 
ing-room, Carl  followed  next  with  Mrs.  Haw- 
kins— Mrs.  Grayson  with  Mr.  Hawkins,  and  Ruth 
and  Mr.  Hawleigh  walked  last  of  the  party.  No 
one  was  disposed  to  resent  this  seemingly  chance 
pairing  off,  and  Agnes  began  to  chatter  away  in 
her  usual  gay  fashion,  dividing  her  conversation 
amongst  first  one  and  then  another  of  her' 
friends. 

The  scene  in  the  dining-room,  under  the  glow 
of  innumerable  lights,  was  a  bright  gala  picture 
of  animation  and  enjoyment.  The  haughty 
head-waiter,  rubbing  his  hands  and  bowing,  ap- 
peared in  the  doorway  and  silently  conducted 
them  to  a  reserved  table,  at  the  far  end  of  the 
room. 

The  band  played  entrancingly  all  through  sup- 
per, and  when  the  meal  was  over  and  they  were 
on  their  way  back,  they  stopped  a  few  minutes 
in  the  ball-room  to  arrange  the  time  and  place 
of  their  meeting  to  attend  the  Glee  Concert  to- 
gether. Ii  was  the  most  natural  thing  in  the 
world  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins  and  Mr.  Haw- 
leigh should  be  included  in  what  was  popularly 
known  at  the  Atlantic  as  the  Grayson-party,  and 
from  this  evening  on  these  three  new  arrivals 


IN   THE    NEW    ELPORADO.  405 

were  spoken  of  and  identified  as  belonging  to 
that  particular  set.  While  they  were  occupied 
with  the  arrangements  for  the  concert,  the  band 
struck  up  a  gay  waltz.  Carl  gave  Agnes  a  quick, 
inquiring  glance,  the  meaning  of  which  she 
seemed  to  comprehend  at  once,  for  she  nodded 
and  smiled  responsively,  and  the  next  moment 
he  approached  her  and  iDent  before  her,  laughing. 

''  The  temptation  is  too  great,  little  Cousin.  I 
know  vou  can't  resist  it.  Let  me  see  vour  card. 
You  have  me  down  for  the  third  waltz,  but  this 
will  be  an  'extra,'  and  won't  count."  Then 
bending  lower,  he  went  on  sotto  voice,  "  By  the 
way,  what  have  you  done  to  yourself;  you  are 
looking  splendid — positively  dazzling  this  even- 
ing: I  never  saw  you  look  so  charming." 

Agues  turned  to  him  with  glowing  cheeks  and 
sparkling  eyes, 

''  I  flatter  myself  that  I  always  look  well ;  am  I 
really  looking  better  than  usual  this  evening  '?  " 

"  To  me  you  are — decidedly.'" 

"  Perhaps  it  is  the  effect  of  my  toilet  ?  " 

''  Hardly.  I've  never  seen  you  when  I  didn't 
think  vou  were  faultlesslv  dressed — and  never  at 
any  special  occasion — when  not  superbly.'" 

"  Thanks.  If  you  pay  me  many  such  compli- 
ments you'll  make  me  insufferably  vain.  But — 
but  I  can't  imagine  why  there  should  be  such  a 
marked  difference  in  my  appearnce  this  evening. ' ' 

"Don't  you,  really,  petite?"  he  laughed. 
"  Well,  my  impression  is,  that  it  is  an  overflow  of 
the  elixir  of  the  heart — joy,  peace  and  happiness. ' ' 

A  yachting  party  had  been  planned  for  this 
same  evening,  and  a  quarter  of  an  hour  later 
Mrs.  Grayson  and  Ruth  were  descending  the 
stairs  on  their  way  to  the  entrance  hall,  where 


406  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 

Mrs.  Grayson  had  asked  her  brother  to  meet 
them.  At  that  moment  the  office  clock  struck 
half -past  ten. 

The  rest  of  the  party  had  already  preceded 
them  to  the  parlors,  now  beginning  to  fill  rapidly 
with  guests.  But  it  was  some  ten  minutes  or 
more  after  Dr.  Leslie  and  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Ruth 
had  gone  in  quest  of  their  party  before  all  of 
them  could  be  brought  together  and  reminded 
that  it  was  time  for  them  to  be  off.  Mr.  Haw- 
kins good-naturedly  proffered  to  use  his  powers  of 
influence  in  getting  the  scattered  party  together. 

Meanwhile,  Ruth,  in  spite  of  her  most  sincere 
wish  to  avoid  being  marked  out  and  made  a  cen- 
tral figure,  as  was  so  often  the  case  when  she 
appeared  in  any  large  gathering,  soon  found  her- 
self holding  a  sort  of  informal  court — for  almost 
immediately  after  her  entry  into  the  room,  she 
had  been  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  enthusiastic 
admirers,  and  many  new-comers  petitioning  to 
be  introduced. 

Ruth  was  not  aware  that  Mrs.  Grayson  had 
approached  and  stood  beside  her  until  she  touched 
her  on  the  shoulder. 

''  Come,  my  dear,  you  and  Mr.  Hauleigh— the 
others  are  ready  and  waiting  for  us  on  the  pier. 
Ah,  Major  Lamont,  you  have  come  back  for  us  y  " " 
Mrs.  Grayson  added,  as  that  gentleman  came 
up.     "We  were  just  going.*" 

Major  Lamont  acknowledged  the  information 
with  a  bend  of  his  head,  apologized  for  inter- 
rupting them,  and  then  offering  Mrs.  G^-ayson 
his  arm,  proposed  they  join  the  waiting  party 
on  the  pier  at  once.  He  moved  off  as  he  spoke, 
leaving  Mr.  Hawleigh  and  Ruth  to  follow. 

'•  How  lovely!  "  cried   Ruth,  enthusiastically. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  407 

as  they  passed  out  on  to  the  pier — beyond  the 
brilhant  rooms — beyond  the  sound  of  the  gay, 
idle  life  and  pleasant  laughter,  and  paused  for  one 
moment  to  look  out  over  the  moonlit  bay  and 
enjoy  the  hushed  glories  of  the  summer  night. 
A  gentle  breeze  rippled  the  waters,  and  shi\^ered 
the  shining  images  of  those  jewel-like,  throbbing 
worlds  reflected  on  its  glittering  surface. 

From  across  the  bay  where  Beaufort  lay,  here 
and  there  weird  lights  flashed  and  vanished — 
again,  they  would  leap  into  vision,  gleam  with 
a  tremulous  motion,  dancing  like  will-o'-the- 
wisps,  and  then  disappear. 

At  the  far  end  of  the  pier,  where  the  party 
were  going  aboard  the  Aurora,  came  the  twang, 
twang  of  a  guitar,  the  discordant  notes  mingling 
with  the  gay  chatter  and  laughter  from  happy 
hearts.  "Mr.  Darrell  is  taking  his  guitar  along, " 
Mr.  Hawleigh  said,  as  they  hurried  down  the 
pier,  "  and  I  hope  you  will  favor  us  with  some 
music.  Miss  Arnold,'' 

"  I  will,  with  pleasure.  But  how  did  you  know 
I  played  the  guitar  ?  " 

"  Did  you  not  tell  me  so,  two  years  ago  ?  " 

' '  Perhaps  I  did, ' '  she  laughed.  '  'You  certainly 
have  a  retentive  memory." 

The  night  w^as  full  of  glory,  and  the  throbl)ing 
stars  paled  beneath  the  matchless  radiance  of 
the  silver  orb  of  night,  while  a  soft  wind,  pla}^- 
ing  upon  the  shining  surface  of  the  bay.  reflected 
from  its  rippling  waves  a  glancing  glory  that 
gleamed  and  flashed  like  burnished  metal. 

It  did  not  take  the  little  party  long  to  disem- 
bark on  their  return,  and  once  upon  the  pier,  by 
the  same  involuntary  impulse.  Dr.  Leslie  and 
Ruth    paused    to   gaze   on    the   calm,   haunting 


408  .     UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

beauty  of  the  full  moon,  now  in  all  her  pomp  of 
light,  mid-heaven;  and  this  action  caused  them 
to  fall  in  the  rear  of  the  retreating  party.  Pres- 
ently Ruth  turned  as  if  she  would  move  on, 
when  Dr.  Leslie  touched  her  hand.  "  Stay  one 
moment,  Ruth — there  is  something  I  wish  to  say 
to  you."  These  last  words  were  spoken  low, 
but,  without  questioning  him  by  word  or  look, 
she  confidingly  laid  her  hand  in  his,  then  they 
moved  on  silently  and  slowly  in  the  rear  of  the 
party,  which  soon  quitted  the  pier  and  passed 
into  the  hotel. 

Pausing  beside  the  low  parapet  wall  on  the  bay 
side.  Dr.  Leslie  turned  to  Ruth,  and  stood  for 
some  moments  gazing  at  her  so  intently  that  her 
cheek  flushed,  and  she  wondered  at  his  firm  and 
collected  bearing. 

Suddenly  his  whole  countenance  changed,  and 
he  began  to  speak  to  her  in  soft  and  caressing 
tones. 

They  talked  on  and  on  while  the  night  deep- 
ened and  brightened,  and  as  they  turned  to  quit 
the  pier,  suddenly  there  came  from  across  the 
bay  the  sweet  sound  of  music,  and  then  a  fleet 
of  boats,  their  sails  gleamiag  in  the  limpid  moon- 
light, steering  swiftly  in  an  exciting  race  toward 
the  wharf. 

' '  The  rest  of  the  excursionists  just  returning. ' ' 
said  Dr.  Leslie,  glancing  in  the  direction  of  the 
boats.  • '  I  dare  say  Carl  and  Agnes  are  with  the 
party.  Shall  we  wait  for  them,  or  do  you  prefer 
to  go  in?^' 

There  was  a  short  pause  before  she  answered. 

"Let  us  go  in.  Somehow  I  shrink  from  the 
jar  of  merry  companions  to-uight."  So  saying 
she  laid  her  hand  upon  his  arm  and  he  dre  w  her 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO,  409 

gently  away,  and  walked  with  her  through  the 
deserted,  dimly  lighted  ball-room,  through  the 
silent  corridors,  up  the  broad  winding  stairway, 
then  halted  at  her  door,  where,  when  she  had 
withdrawn  her  hand  from  his  support,  he  took 
both  of  them,  and  pressing  them  palm  to  palm, 
held  them  tightly,  and  said,  "  Oh,  Euth,  would 
to  heav^en  I  were  more  worthy  of  your  love," 

Perhaps  the  next  few  days  were  to  Ruth  Ar- 
nold the  most  supremely  h^ppy  that  she  had 
ever  experienced.  Her  face  was  radiant  with 
that  rare  gleam  of  secret  happiness  which  at 
times  made  her  look  almost  angelic,  and  there 
was  something  so  arch,  so  vivacious  and  so  alto- 
gether charming  in  her  flow  of  gayety  that  her 
guardian  thought  he  had  never  seen  any  one 
half  so  irresistible. 


27 


410  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

The  day  which  had  been  set  for  a  party  of  the 
Atlantic's  guests  to  visit  the  hghthonse,  off  the 
coast  of  Cape  Lookout,  dawned  grey  and  threat- 
ening: but  this  fact  did  not  deter  more  than  half 
a  dozen  of  the  number  risking  the  trip,  which 
the  Captain  now  decided  to  make  by  the  bay 
route  instead  of  the  lumpy  sea.  This  change  of 
the  original  program  brought  forth  a  vigorous 
protest  from  some  of  the  more  venturesome  ones, 
but  an  hour  later,  when  a  heavy  squall  struck 
the  staunch  little  craft  with  great  force,  causing 
her  to  bound  and  reel  under  the  blow,  they 
readily  acknowledged  the  wisdom  of  the  brave 
Captain,  who  now  seemed  fairly  endowed  with 
instinct  in  finding  his  way  out  of  danger.  For- 
tunately the  storm  swept  over  as  suddenly  as  it 
had  come;  the  lurching,  rolling,  diving  motion 
of  the  boat  ceased  and  became  more  steady,  and 
the  Jessie  Arthur,  in  perfect  trim,  went  plow- 
ing proudly  across  the  bay,  and  half  an  hour  after 
the  squall,  landed  her  passengers  in  safety  upon 
the  low  sandy  beach,  for  which  she  had  been  mak- 
ing. Immediately  the  party  formed  into  squads 
and  couples  and  started  for  the  lighthouse,  a  mile 
away,  arriving  at  the  keeper's  house  in  strag- 
gling detachments,  footsore  and  weary. 

After  resting  sufficiently  to  make  the  ascent 
of  the  tower,  the  party  now  quitted  the  room, 
leaving  Carl  and  Agnes  its  only  occupants.  Find- 
ing that  Carl  had  remained  behind  to  keep  her 
company,  Agnes  turned  to  him,  smiling: 

"  Let  me  insist,  Carl,  that  you'll  not  stay  on 
my  account  and  miss  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the 


'J 


m   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  411 


interior  of  the  tower.  I  know  how  much  you 
have  looked  forward  to  this,  and,  really,  it  will 
distress  me  very  much  to  know  that  I  am  the 
cause  of  your  being  disappointed. '- 

"Indeed  you  are  not/'  he  answered,  with  a 
smile  of  satisfaction,  seating  himself  beside  her. 
"  I'd  much  rather  stay  here  and  talk  to  you,  and 
try  to  console  you  for  the  loss  of  your  trip, ' '  he 
added,  with  a  little  laugh.  ''But  I  suspect,  little 
Cousin,  that  after  all  there  is  something  else- 
some  other  trouble  than  mere  physical  weari- 
ness and  pain  annoying  you.  isn't  there 
Be  frank,  and  tell  me.  Indeed.  I  do  wish  you 
would  allow  me  to  share  the  old-time  confidence, 
the  confidence  you  used  to  repose  in  me,  and  tell 
me  what  it  is  that  is  depressing  or  troubling  you. 
It  might  be  that  I  can  lielp  you ;  be  of  service  to 
yon  in  some  way."' 

'•  Oh,  it  is  nothing  at  all;  that   is,  nothing  of 
any  consequence,"  she  answered,  carelessly,  rest 
ing  her  head  with  a  weary  sigh  against  the  frame 
of  the  window,  and  looking  out. 

"And  you  are  reaUy  not  unhappy  then,  little 
Cousin?"  he  persisted,  gazing  steadilv  at  her. 

'•  Why  should  I  be '?  " 

"  That's  just  what  I  want  to  find  put." 

'*  What  a  strange  idea  you've  taken  into  your 
head.  Am  I  not  always  happy  "?  '  she  asked, 
with  a  forced  laugh. 

"  Dear  Cousin,  your  answer  doesn't  satisfy 
me.  I  wish  you  would  confide  in  me  and  let  me 
help  you  if  I  can." 

Agnes  turned  her  face  farther  from  him  and 
looked  absently  out  the  window.  In  spite  of  her 
affected  calmness,  something  in  her  whole  man- 
ner revealed  her  inward  struggle. 


4:12  UNDER   GOLDEX   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Agnes,  you  can't  deceive  me;  there  is  some- 
thing unusual  the  matter  with  you,  something 
you  do  not  wish  me  to  know ;  I  see  it ;  I  feel  it, 
and  I  beg  that  you  will — " 

"  Oh,  don't,  don't,"  she  pleaded,  without  turn 
ing   her   head;  and    then  she  trembled,  a  mist 
came  before  her  eyes,  her  pulses  quickened  and 
her  brain  seemed  in  a  whirl. 

"I  do  not  comprehend  you  at  all,  Agnes,"  he 
said,  in  a  voice  subdued  and  very  soft.  "  I  wish 
I  did.  If  it  is  some  lover's  quarrel — if  you  and 
Darrell  have  had  some  misunderstanding,  or 
something  of  the  kind  and  I  can — " 

Suddenly  Agnes  waved  her  hand  with  a  ges- 
ture to  stop — blushing,  confused,  palpitating. 
The  long  drooping  lashes  which  shaded  her  glow- 
ing cheeks  were  raised,  and  he  saw  that  her  eyes 
were  filled  with  tears. 

"  No — no — we've  had  no  quarrel — he's  noth- 
ing to  me — never  was — and  never  can  be;  you 
are  mistaken  in  supposing  so — "  a  sob  stopped 
her  voice. 

For  a  moment  Carl  w^as  too  much  astonished 
to  speak.  He  passed  his  hand  across  his  fore- 
head.    It  was  a  gesture  habitual  with  him, 

"  My  dear  little  Cousin,  you  surprise  me  more 
and  more.  Don't  you  remember — or  have  you 
forgotten  what  you  told  me  that  afternoon  we 
went  over  to  Beaufort  together — you,  Euth  and 
myself  ?  Or,  rather,  what  you  led  me  to  infer, 
that  you  and  Darrell  were  betrothed  ?  At  least 
I  suspected  that  it  was  Darrell,  because  of  his 
marked  devotion  to  you,  and  your  seeming  pref- 
erence for  his  society. ' ' 

Agnes  changed  countenance,  she  was  silent  a 
moment,  then  answered  frankly: 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  413 


a 


Yes,  I  see  now;  but  I  hope  you  will  believe 
me,  nevertheless,  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have 
never  had  an  opportunity  to  accept  or  refuse  an 
offer  of  marriage  from  Mr.  Darrell  until  to-day — 
within  the  last  hour — and  that  offer  I  have  most 
emphatically  declined.  While  I  like  and  esteem 
Mr.  Darrell  as  a  friend— and  told  him  so — yet  I 
cannot  reward  his  love  as  he  deserves ;  therefore, 
for  his  sake,  as  well  as  my  own,  I  rejected  his 
proposal. '  ■ 

Carl's  face  had  assumed  a  mingled  expression 
of  surprise,  hope,  tenderness  and  concern  while 
Agnes  was  speaking,  and  when  she  had  finished, 
he  looked  at  her  a  moment  in  silence,  and  then 
said  more  gently,  stroking  the  jewelled  hand 
which  rested  upon  the  arm  of  the  chair: 

"  But  is  it  not  as  I  surmised;  is  it  that  some 
other  more  fortunate  than  Darrell  has  won  the 
heart  of  my  little  cousin  ?     Is  it  true  ?  " 

Agnes  did  not  speak,  but  shook  her  head,  then 
holding  one  hand  over  her  bowed  face  the  tears 
dropped  fast  from  her  hidden  eyes.  Carl  was 
quite  overcome  at  the  sight  of  his  cousin's  emo- 
tion— for,  like  all  brave,  manly  men,  his  heart 
was  as  tender  and  sympathetic  as  a  woman's. 

"Sweet  Cousin — Agnes — , "  he  said  in  a  gentle 
and  low  whisper,  and  something  in  the  tone  of 
his  voice  made  her  heart  thrill  with  a  sudden 
joy — "  let  me  ask  you  again — won't  you  confide 
in  me ;  won't  you  look  up  and  listen  to  me  ? 
What  I  am  going  to  say  to  you,  I  have  no  doubt 
will  surprise  you,  and,  perhaps,  may  cause  you 
to  think  that  I  am  departing  from  proper  discre- 
tion— or,  perhaps,  that  I  am  strangely  inconsis- 
tent; but  let  me  ask  that  should  such  a  thought 
occur  to  you,  please  banish  it  from  your  mind  at 


414  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

once,  and  believe  me  that  what  I  do  or  say,  I'm 
prompted  by  none  other  feeling  than  the  purest 
and  fondest  love  for  you.  I  have  not  dared  to 
even  hint  to  you  what  I  am  going  to  tell  you  now. 
I  have  not  dared  to  confess  that  a  mysterious 
influence — if  I  may  define  it  —  has  strangely 
drawn  me  to  you  of  late.  I  would  not  pause  to 
analyze  this  strange  feeling  awakening  in  my 
heart  toward  you,  because,  believing  you  hap- 
pily plighted  to  another,  there  was  no  need  that 
I  should  solve  what  is  now  so  plain  to  me.  But, 
with  the  assurance  that  your  heart  is  free  from 
allegiance  to  another — that  this  little  hand  is 
free  to  give  to  whom  you  please,  I  feel  that  some 
great  barrier  which  had  painfully  divided  us  has 
been  suddenly  leveled  and  removed,  and  the 
knowledge  of  this  fact  proclaims  to  me  a  hope 
as  dear  as  life  itself  —it  is  a  hope  that  you  will 
approve  me  worthy  of  the  liand  and  heart  that 
you  have  just  refused  another.*' 

He  paused,  took  her  hand,  and  looked  steadily 
at  her.  But  sh  made  no  answer,  and  he  went 
on  in  the  same  fervent,  gentle  tones ;  ' '  Agnes, 
you  are  dearer  to  me  than  a  cousin ;  and  now,  if 
you  can  fearlessly  lay  this  little  hand  in  mine, 
and  with  it  the  dower  of  your  priceless  love,  and 
give  me  the  right  to  guide,  protect  and  love  you 
as  my  wife,  I  pledge  you  that  your  happiness 
shall  ever  be  my  fondest  care.  Will  you  give  me 
this  right — may  I  dare  to  hope — will  you  console 
me  with  your  love,  Agnes  ?  " 

He  paused  again,  and  waited  for  her  to  answer. 

"  Speak,  dearest  Cousin,  and  tell  me  if  my 
love  awakes  no  echo  in  your  own  heart  ?  "  Mis- 
taking her  silence,  he  resumed  sadly : 

"If  you  must  bid  me  cease  to  hope;  if  you 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  415 

must  baoish  me  from  your  presence,  let  me  ask 
that  you  will  do  it  gently,  tenderly,  Cousin  mine, 
for  remember  that  it  is  a  human  heart — a  heart 
that  loves  you  fondly  you  are  crushing." 

The  next  instant  Agnes  lifted  her  face,  over 
which  the  varying  and  fitful  color  came  and  went, 
and  the  exquisite  tenderness  of  its  expression 
enhanced  its  delicate  beauty. 

Then  with  that  strange  mixture  of  pride  and 
timidity,  she  smiled,  and  said  in  a  voice  low, 
clear  and  sweet,  while  she  placed  both  hands  in 
his: 

"  Carl,  this  is  my  answer — my  love — my  self, 
my  all  I  trust  to  your  keeping,  and  let  the  issue 
be  what  it  may,  I  am — I  shall  be  happy,  for  I 
have  loved  you  long,  more  than  any  one  in  the 
wide,  wide  world. 

"  Surely  that  is  all  that  I  could  ask,  my  prec- 
ious Cousin,"'  he  said,  "and  rest  assured  that 
you  shall  never  regret  the  decision  of  this  mo- 
ment— never  regret  the  choice  you  have  made." 

"And  Cousin  Helen — your  mother — oh,  Carl 
what  will  she  say  ?  "  she  asked  timidly,  looking 
up  into  his  happy  face. 

"  Ah,  my  sweet  and  gentle  mother — she  loves 
you  already.  Agnes ;  and  when  I  tell  her  all — 
tell  her  that  you  will  be  my  wife  and  her  daugh- 
ter, she  will  take  you  to  her"  heart  and  love  and 
cherish  you  as  tenderly  as  I  do  now.  Never  fear 
— you  will  be  spared  all  anxiety  on  that  score." 

"But  Cousin  Ralph?  I  know  he  has  other 
plans  for  you — at  least  business  plans — and  then 
he  may  have  prejudices,  you  know,  against — , " 
she  did  not  finish  the  sentence,  but  said,  ' '  Do 
you  think  he  will  object  to  our  union  ?  " 

"  Why.  no,  little  Cousin.     Why  should  he  ob- 


416  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

ject  ?  He  admires  you,  he  loves  you,  and  he  is 
ambitious  most  for  my  happiness  and  honor. 
There  is  no  need  that  I  should  give  up  any  am- 
bitious plan  that  he  may  have  mapped  out  for 
my  future  career.  No,  on  the  conrtary,  it  seems 
to  me  there  is  all  the  more  need  now  that  I 
should  carry  out  those  plans.  Don't  you  think 
so?" 

Before  she  could  answer  they  heard  steps  ap- 
proaching, and  Agnes'  name  was  called  by  a 
feminine  voice,  which  she  at  once  recognized, 
Carl  rose  and  crossed  the  room,  then  came  back 
and  stood  beside  his  cousin's  chair. 

The  next  instant  Miss  Blount  entered  the  room 
and  dropped  wearily  down  on  the  chair  that  Carl 
had  just  vacated. 

"  I'm  down  from  the  tower  at  last,  and  oh,  so 
tired,"  she  said,  with  a  little  pant,  and  fanning 
herself  languidly  with  her  hat. 

' '  Yes,  I  think  that  is  decidedly  patent, ' '  Carl 
said,  laughing.  "  Pity's  there's  not  an  elevator. 
Allow  me  to  get  a  fan  arid  aid  you  to  recover 
yourself.  Oh,  here's  one — just  the  thing — a 
gull's  wing."  Then  he  sat  down  beside  her,  and 
began  fanning  her  furiously. 

"  Oh,  you'll  take  my  breath,  Mr.  Grayson," 
she  protested,  throwing  up  her  hands.  "  Do 
moderate  the  breeze.  There — -thanks;  how  kind 
and  considerate  you  are ;  now  let  me  tell  you 
where  I've  been  and  what  I've  seen." 

"  To  the  top  of  the  tower,  of  course,  and  seen 
the  ocean  as  a  matter  of  fact, ' '  said  Agnes,  seu- 
tentiously. 

"  Yes,  that  is  just  what  I've  done,"  she  re- 
turned, emphatically,  "  and  while  I  don't  regret 
undertaking  such  a  feat,  I  assure  you  I'll  never 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  417 

attempt  it  again.  But,  really,  yoa  should  have 
gone,"  she  went  on,  looking  from  one  to  the 
other — "  both  of  vou.  The  keeper  was  just  as 
nice  and  courteous  as  possible,  and  gave  us  all 
the  information  about  the  lighthouse  we  desired. 
I'm  afraid  he  thought  we  were  an  awfully  igno- 
rant set,  for  we — that  is,  some  of  us,  asked  him 
such  silly  questions. 

''After  we'd  inspected  the  big  lamp  to  our  sat- 
isfaction, we  went  out  on  a  circular  balcony, 
which  has  a  high  railing,  and  from  there  we  had 
a  magnificent  view  of  the  ocean.  Oh,  I  wish  you 
could  have  seen  it.  I'll  not  even  attempt  to  de- 
scribe it,  because  I  can't;  but  perhaps  Miss  Ar- 
nold may  be  able  to  do  the  subject  justice.  I 
left  her  with  Mrs.  Hawkins,  absorbed  in  silent 
admiration  of  its  grandeur,  and  pleading  to 
be  allowed  just  a  few  minutes  longer  to  enjoy 
the  view." 

Then  Miss  Blount  stopped  and  listened. 

' '  Yes,  here  they  come  now.  and  perhaps  they 
can  tell  you  more  about  this  wonderful  tower 
than  I  have  done.  But  I  am  really  sorry  that 
you  didn't  see  the  interior  of  it  yourselves." 

Turning  to  Agnes,  she  asked : 

"  By  the  way,  how  is  your  foot  ?  Mr.  DarreU 
told  me  you  met  with  an  accident  on  the  way- — 
stepped  upon  a  piece  of  shell  or  something  sharp 
and  lamed  yourself.  I  hope  it  is  not  paining  you 
any  more  ?  " 

At  the  mention  of  Mr.  Darrell's  name,  Agnes" 
face  flushed  all  over.  "Thank  you,  it  is  better. 
It  was  nothing  serious.  See,  I'm  able  to  use  it 
quite  well  again,"  she  said,  with  a  little  laugh, 
which  she  tried  to  make  natural,  as  she  rose  from 
her  seat  and  walked  slowly  but  firmly  several 


418  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

times  up  and  down  the  room.  Carl  and  Miss 
Blount  watched  her  intently  while  she  made  the 
test,  and  the  latter  ran  on  in  her  fluent  way, 
all  unconscious  that  she  was  discussing  a  most 
embarrassing  theme — to  Agnes  at  least. 

''  Isn't  it  too  bad  that  Mr.  Darrell  leaves  us  in 
the  morning  ?  It  must  be  a  very  sudden  decis- 
ion, for  he  told  me  not  longer  than  yesterday 
that  he  expected  to  spend  two  weeks  longer  at 
the  sea-coast.  I  can't  imagine  what  possessed 
him  to  change  his  mind  so  soon." 

''  I  don't  tliink  I  shall  have  any  further  trouble 
with  my  foot,"  Agnes  interrupted,  as  she  re- 
sumed her  seat.   ' '  It  doesn't  pain  me  at  all  now. ' ' 

Miss  Blount  was  too  deeply  interested  in  what 
she  was  saying  to  notice  how  Agnes  winced,  and 
the  color  flamed  up  into  her  cheek  at  the  men- 
tion of  Mr.  Darrell's  name;  but  before  she  had 
time  to  resume  the  unwelcome  subject,  the  party 
from  the  lighthouse,  accompanied  by  the  keeper, 
entered  the  room,  and  then  the  conversation  be- 
came general  and  animated.  A  merry  group 
surrounded  the  keeper,  and  kept  him  busy  an- 
swering the  questions  they  put  to  him.  Amidst 
the  twitter  of  gay  voices  and  rippling  laughter, 
to  one  looking  on  from  a  little  distance,  it 
seemed  that  everyone  was  talking  at  once,  and 
no  one  listening. 

Mrs.  Hawkins  had  tried  several  times  to  speak 
to  the  party,  to  make  known  an  important  mes- 
sage from  the  Captain  of  the  boat — but  without 
success.  At  length,  when  she  managed  to  make 
herself  heard  above  the  gay  din,  in  a  few  words 
she  explained  the  situation. 

The  Captain  had  told  her  that  he  apprehended 
another  storm   during  the  afternoon;  that  the 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  419 

squall  that  morning  had  simply  been  a  herald  of 
a  terrible  storm  pending,  but  if  they  would  re- 
turn to  the  boat  at  once  he  thought  he  might 
get  them  back  to  the  city  before  it  came  on. 

Immediately  all  were  ready  and  eager  to  suit 
the  suggestion  to  action  with  all  possible  speed, 
so  taking  leave  of  the  courteous  keeper,  with 
profuse  thanks  for  the  many  favors  he  had  ex- 
tended them,  they  hurriedly  quitted  the  precincts 
of  the  lighthouse  and  made  their  way  back  to 
the  boat. 

Barely  more  than  half  of  the  party  had  been 
conveyed  across  the  water  to  the  boat,  when  it 
was  discovered  that  several  couples  were  missing 
and  no  one  could  tell  whether  they  had  left  the 
lighthouse  with  the  main  party,  or  had  started 
and  were  lagging  on  the  way.  This  news  in- 
creased the  consternation  of  the  others,  while 
the  grave  expression  on  the  Captain's  face  indi- 
cated great  anxiety  as  he  stood  looking  in  the 
direction  the  delayed  party  must  come. 

"  Now,  isn't  it  too  provoking  for  anything  ?  " 
said  Miss  Blount,  contracting  her  brows.  "  I  feel 
just  like  crying.'' 

"Oh,  don't  do  that.  Miss  Maggie,"  said  Mr. 
Vernon,  sympathetically,  ''or  we'll  set  sail  and 
leave  the  laggards  to  their  fate." 

' '  Serve  them  right  if  we  did, ' '  returned  Mr. 
Fulton,  rummaging  in  the  locker  under  the  seat 
and  drawing  forth  a  couple  of  sou' -westers  and 
oil-cloth  coats,  one  of  which  he  handed  to  Miss 
Blount  and  the  other  to  Miss  Spencer.  "  Better 
put  them  on,''  he  observed.  "  The  squall's  cer- 
tainly coming,  and  we  are  going  to  catch  it  like 
fury  this  time.  I  wish  there  were  enough  of 
these  things  to  go  round — , ''  dragging  out  an- 


420  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

other  sou '-wester — ■'  but  this  is  all.     Miss  Glen- 
wood,  won't  you  take  this  one  ?  " 

"No,  thanks.  I'd  rather  take  a  pelting  on  my 
devoted  head  than  wear  that  ridiculous  thing. 
Why,  I  should  look  like  a  scarecrow  in  it. ' ' 

' '  Not  any  more  so  than  the  rest  of  us, ' '  inter- 
posed Miss  Spencer,  laughing,  and  tying  hers  on. 

"  Hand  it  over  this  way,  Mr.  Fulton,  and  I'll 
wear  it,"  said  Mrs.  Markham,  holding  out  her 
hand  for  it.  "I  am  not  particular  whether  it's 
becoming  or  not,  so  it  protects  my  head." 

"  That's  right,  Mrs.  Markhm."  said  Mr.  Ful- 
ton, passing  the  sou '-wester  to  her.  "I  fancy  Miss 
Glenwood  will  wish  she  had  accepted  it  before 
the  storm  is  half  over. ' ' 

"Hush!"  said  Mr.  Hawleigh,  turning  his  head 
and  assuming  a  listening  attitude.  ''  I  thought 
I  heard  some  one  call.'' 

' '  Vain  fancy.  You  heard  nothing  but  the  mur- 
mur of  the  surf  on  the  distant  beach, ' '  responded 
Carl,  with  an  incredulous  smile. 

Miss  Spencer  clasped  her  hands  in  mute  sub- 
mission. 

"  Well,  we  have  no  choice  but  to  wait." 

The  Captain  still  stood  with  anxious  brows, 
watching  the  clouds  which  every  moment  grew 
more  threatening.  The  sun  was  now  obscured. 
the  air  heavy,  and  an  unnatural  light  pervaded 
it  on  every  side.  A  great  change  had  indeed 
taken  place  in  the  sky  during  the  last  half  hour 
— a  change  often  observed  previous  to  a  tremen- 
dous elemental  conflict. 

"  Do  you  think  we  can  possibly  reach  the  city 
before  the  storm  breaks  ?  ' '  asked  Mrs.  Hawkins, 
nervously,  eyeing  the  stern,  calm  face  of  the 
Captain. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  421 

"  Hardly,  I  fear.  Every  moment  is  precious — 
every  inch  a  mile, ' '  he  replied  briefly,  and  then 
turned  and  began  to  scan  again  with  a  strained, 
frowning  look  the  darkening  sky. 

"  Thank  heaven,  here  they  come  at  last,"  ex- 
claimed Miss  Spencer,  as  the  loitering  party  came 
in  sight.  Instantly  every  eye  was  turned  in  the 
direction  of  the  bare,  wind- swept  dune. 

Mr.  Vernon  placed  a  hand  on  either  side  of  his 
mouth  and  shouted: 

"  Push  on — hurry — we  are  waiting — we  must 
be  off — a  storm — a  storm." 

They  must  have  heard,  though  the  wind 
seemed  to  toss  and  muffie  his  voice,  for  the  next 
moment  the  gentlemen  took  the  ladies  by  the 
hand,  and  almost  dragging  them  along,  soon 
reached  the  boat  quite  out  of  breath. 

"Aren't  you  ashamed  of  yourselves  for  detain- 
ing us  as  you  Ve  done  ?  "  cried  Miss  Blount,  wav- 
ing her  hand  to  the  belated  party.  "Here  we've 
been  waiting  for  you  over  a  half  hour,  at  the 
risk  of  our  lives,  too.  Indeed,  I  shouldn't  be  sur- 
prised if  you  hadn't  entered  into  a  conspiracy  of 
some  kind  to  get  us  shipwrecked  out  in  the 
bay  while  you  four  contrive  some  means  to  escape 
yourselves.  I'll  declare  it  is  perfectly  exaspera- 
ting thQ  way  you've  treated  us." 

"  Hold,  hold.  Miss  Maggie;  don't  club  a  fellow 
when  he's  down,"  shouted  back  Mr.  Meredith 
from  the  shore.  "  We're  struggling  for  breath 
just  now,  and  can't  fight." 

"  Darrell,  we  intend  to  sue  you  and  Meredith 
for  damages,  should  anything  happen  to  us  be- 
fore we  reach  the  city, ' '  called  out  Mr.  Vernon, 
in  a  bantering  tone.  "  What  in  the  world  were 
you  all  doing  that  you  didn't  come  on  with  the 
rest  of  us  ?  " 


422  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Mr.  Meredith,  who  was.  standing  beside  Mr. 
Darrell,  waiting  his  turn  to  be  conveyed  to  the 
boat,  thrust  his  hands  into  his  coat  pockets  and 
drew  them  out  filled  with  shells.  Then  holding 
them  up,  said  very  humbly: 

"  Let  us  have  your  sympathy  and  your  tears 
— we've  been  shelled.'' 

"  Upon  my  word!  well,  I'll  be — silenced,  after 
that,"  returned  Mr.  Vernon,  hanging  his  head 
in  feigned  humility. 

' '  Honestly,  I  beheve  you  all  have  gone  daft, ' ' 
said  Carl.  "  Picking  up  shells  for  amusement 
in  the  very  teeth  of  a  storm,  and  thirty-two  pre- 
cious human  lives  at  stake !  Say,  good  people, 
what  did  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Grayson,  don't  scold  and  abuse  us 
any  more,  if  you  please,''  pleaded  Miss  Carter, 
one  of  the  ladies  who  had  loitered  on  the  way. 
"  Miss  King  and  I  will  bear  all  the  blame.  It 
was  our  fault.  Mi'.  Darrell  and  Mr.  Meredith 
tried  to  hurry  us,  but  we  would  have  some  of 
those  lovely  shells  on  the  beach.  Indeed,  it  is 
not  their  fault  at  all,  and  you  must  not  visit  our 
sins  upon  their  innocent  heads.'' 

"•Bravo!  bravo!  Miss  Carter,"  shouted  Mr. 
Fulton,  in  his  rolicking  way;  "I'll  get  you  to 
plead  for  me  the  next  time  I  get  into  a  scrape." 

'^  No,  no.  Miss  Carter — Darrell  and  I  are  able 
and  willing  to  shoulder  all  the  blame.  We'll 
shirk  nothing — not  a  bit  of  it — no,  not  we, ' '  said 
Mr.  Meredith,  who  had  just  come  aboard,  and 
was  taking  a  seat  by  Miss  King,  who  looked  for 
all  the  world  as  if  she  were  ready  to  burst  into 
tears.  Seeing  her  clouded  face,  he  went  on  in  a 
compassionate  tone : 

"  Oh,  pshaw,  don't  you  mind  about  it.  Miss 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  423 

King.  I  think  they  g,re  just  trying  to  frighten 
us  with  the  storm."  But  looking  round  and 
seeing  the  ominous  signs  on  every  side,  he  was 
not  quite  so  sure  they  were  shamming. 

When  the  last  passenger  had  been  brought 
aboard  the  boat,  the  Captain  hurriedly  weighed 
anchor,  and  once  more  the  brave  little  craft  was 
scudding  along  at  a  rapid  speed  before  the  wind, 
the  great  waves  hurling  themselves  against  the 
bow  with  a  tremendous  splash,  then  whirling 
away  with  a  hissing  splash,  leaving  a  long  line 
of  foaming  eddies  in  its  wake. 

It  was  very  evident  that  the  threatening  storm 
would  overtake  them  before  they  could  reach 
the  city,  or  make  more  than  two-thirds  of  the 
distance;  but  not  one  of  them  realized  their 
danger. 

However,  the  distance  between  them  and  the 
city  seemed  to  diminish  with  a  tediousness  that, 
to  their  excited  impatience,  Avas  simply  agoniz- 
ing. Conversation  had  gradually  ceased  and  in 
feverish  excitement  they  sat  watching  the  rapidly 
approaching  storm,  to  the  exclusion  of  every- 
thing else.  The  wind  veered  more  to  the  north- 
east and  the  broad,  black  track  of  the  storm  was 
extending  over  the  water,  which  was  fast  rising. 

The  next  moment  the  bow  of  the  boat  rolled 
heavily,  lifted  by  a  passing  wave,  hung  for  an  in- 
stant poised  upon  its  summit,  and  then  plunged 
ahead  with  renewed  speed,  like  a  courser  an- 
swering the  touch  of  the  rowel,  urging  him  on 
to  the  goal. 

The  water  swashed  and  seathed  underneath  the 
boat,  and  as  the  gale  increased  in  power,  the 
long  boom  and  bulging  sail  made  close  acquaint- 
ance   with   the    foam-crested    waves,    spurting 


424  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

showers  of  salt  spray  over  the  gunwale,  and  then 
shooting  it  down  the  crouching  backs  of  the 
shrieking  crew. 

Another  anxious  moment  passed. 
The  continuous  pealing  of  the  thunder,  mingled 
with  the  hideous  roar  of  the  wind,  was  deafen- 
ing, while  the  heaven  was  almost  an  incessant 
blaze  of  lightning.  Suddenly  the  storm  that  had 
been  sweeping  down  upon  them  burst  in  all  its 
wildest  fury,  and  while  it  lasted  it  seemed  that 
earth  aud  heaven  were  crushing  together  in  one 
wild,  inextricable  confusion.  The  rain  poured 
down  in  torrents,  and  the  sea  hissed  like  a  caul- 
dron. Amidst  the  appalling  uproar,  the  terrified 
passengers  clung  to  one  another,  listening  with 
bated  breath  to  the  awful  dirge  which  seemed 
hurrying  them  on  to  destruction. 

The  mighty  fury  of  the  wind  and  wave  threat- 
ened every  moment  to  tear  the  very  timbers  of 
the  little  boat  asunder,  but  bravely  she  yet  stood 
the  terrific  convulsion  of  the  elements  and  gal- 
lantly rode  the  waves.  Not  a  sign  of  fear  or 
flinching  showed  itself  through  the  stern  com- 
posure, or  in  the  masterful  glance  of  the  Cap- 
tain, and  he  stood  at  his  post  as  calmly  as  though 
his  little  craft  were  sailing  smoothly  over  sunlit 
waves. 

Presently,  when  the  storm  began  to  moderate, 
far  ahead  through  the  slanting  rain  they  could 
discern  the  gray  roof  of  the  hotel.  The  very 
sight  of  it  revived  their  stunned  senses  and 
brought  fresh  hope;  but  in  their  eagerness  to 
reach  the  shore,  it  seemed  that  the  boat  was 
merely  bounding  in  one  spot  upon  the  waves. 

As  soon  as  the  rain  had  ceased,  the  Captain, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  male  portion  of  the 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  425 

crew,  began  bailing  the  water  from  the  inside 
bottom  of  the  boat,  while  the  mate  took  the  til- 
ler, and  with  a  steady  eye  and  skilful  hand 
steered  through  the  tumbling  billows  of  water. 
With  every  lurch  and  careen  of  the  boat  star- 
board, a  tremendous  wave  would  shoot  over  the 
gunwale  and  drench  the  helpless  crew  in  a  fresh 
shower-bath.  But  now  that  the  worst  was  over, 
the  danger  passed,  there  came  to  each  of  them  a 
delightful  sense  of  relief  that  was  positively  ex- 
hilarating, and  suddenly  everyone  seemed  to 
find  his  tongue. 

Having  finished  bailing,  the  Captain  returned 
to  his  seat  at  the  tiller,  and  relieved  the  mate. 

Agnes,  who  was  sitting  in  that  end  of  the  boat, 
looked  up  at  him  with  a  smile  of  undisguised 
admiration,  and  said: 

''  Oh,  how  shall  we  ever  thank  you.  Captain; 
and  you — ,"  nodding  to  the  mate;  "but  for 
your  skill  and  resolution,  I'm  sure  we  all  would 
have  been  lost.  The  very  sight  of  your  face  in 
the  midst  of  that  terrible  storm  inspired  us  with 
hope  and  confidence,  and  somehow  I  could  not 
help  feeling  that  you  would  bring  us  safely 
through  it  all.  When  the  storm  was  at  its  worst, " 
she  went  on,  "  I  looked  at  Ruth — my  friend. 
Miss  Arnold — and  there  she  sat  as  calm  and  se- 
rene as  if  we  were  at  home  in  the  parlor.  I  do 
believe  she  really  enjoyed  it. " 

In  answer  to  the  first  part  of  this  outburst, 
the  Captain  bowed  and  smiled,  then  said  in  a 
kindly  tone: 

"I  only  did  my  duty ;  but  I  must  say  I  shouldn't 
like  to  be  called  upon  again  to  go  through  a  sim- 
ilar experience,  especially  with  such  a  precious 
cargo  aboard." 

28 


426  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


a 


I  should  think  not,"  she  rejoined,  thought- 
fully— then  asked,  looking  out  over  the  water — 
"You  don't  think  there  is  any  danger  of  another 
squall  before  we  reach  home,  do  you  ?  " 

"Oh,  no;  we'll  soon  make  it  now— soon  be 
safe  in  port." 

' '  Miss  Glen  wood,  Mr.  Eoyal  wants  to  know  if 
you  can  reef  a  sail  ?  "  Mr.  Vernon  asked,  raising 
his  voice,  at  the  same  time  wringing  the  water 
from  his  cap,  and  then  fixing  it  on  his  head 
wrong-side-out. 

"  Why,  what  is  the  matter  with  Mr.  Royal, 
he  can't  ask  me  himself  ?  "  she  laughed  back,  her 
voice  seeming  to  float  away  on  the  wind. 

"  He's  caught  cold  and  got  the  croup,"  he  re- 
turned, with  mock  seriousness.  "  But  I  want  to 
know  myself — do  you  know  how  to  reef  a  sail, 
tack,  handle  the  tiller  or — " 

"  No,  I  have  no  nautical  knowledge  at  all,'" 
she  interrupted  him,  brightly.  ' '  I  am  a  land- 
lubber, bred  and  born,  and  after  this  afternoon's 
experience,  I  think  I  am  sufficiently  satisfied, 
and  hereafter  shall  forever  detest  the  sea.  But 
why  do  yon  ask  ?  "  she  questioned,  with  smiling 
wonder. 

' '  Well,  I  was  going  to  suggest  that  you  would 
allow  me  to  teach  you;  but  I  don't  suppose 
there'll  be  any  use  for  me  to  make  that  proposi- 
tion now  *? ' ' 

"  No,  none  in  the  world;  and  even  if  I  were 
to  consent  to  receive  instruction  in  such  things, 
I  think  I  should  prefer  to  get  my  nautical  train- 
ing from  a  more  experienced  seaman  than  your- 
self," she  concluded,  with  a  meaning  smile. 

At  that  moment  the  Captain  called  out,  "Look 
out  there !  Heads  down ! ' '  and  scarcely  had  they 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  427 

time  to  duck  their  heads,  before  the  long  boom 
with  a  flap  and  a  creaking  groan  swept  over 
them,  the  boat  phmged  forward,  and  in  a  trice 
a  cloud  of  feathery  spray  dashed  into  their  faces. 
Then  with  a  skilful  tack  the  Captain  ran  the  boat 
up  to  the  dock,  where  they  found  a  large  crowd 
of  anxious  friends  waiting  with  open  arms  to  re- 
ceive them,  and  without  a  moment's  delay  hur- 
ried them  off  to  the  hotel,  each  one  giving  his 
own  account  of  the  terrible  experience  through 
which  he  had  just  passed,  not  forgetting,  how- 
ever, to  give  the  Captain  and  mate  full  credit 
for  the  heroism  they  had  displayed. 

Discussing  the  event  again  that  evening  at  the 
supper  table,  Mrs.  Hawkins  said,  "  I'll  be  frank 
to  admit  that  I  never  expected  to  reach  home 
alive  or  see  any  of  you  again.  I  thought  every 
moment  that  the  boat  would  be  dashed  to 
pieces  and  the  last  one  of  as  drowned,  and  if  I 
ever  prayed  earnestly  in  my  life,  I  certainly 
prayed  thf n. ' ' 

"I  just  thought  Uncle  Ralph  would  go  craz}", " 
burst  in  Nellie,  "  and  I  believe  he  would  if  you 
all  hadn't  come  when  you  did.  He  and  Mr.  Haw- 
kins got  their  spy-glasses  and  watched  and 
watched:  and  everybody  got  so  frightened  and 
said  they  believed  the  boat  was  lost.  Why.  Uncle 
Ralph  wanted  some  men  to  take  him  out  in  a 
boat,  so  he  could  go  and  look  for  you  all;  but 
they  said  no,  there  was  no  use  to  try,  for  the 
boat  would  be  upset,  and  then  all  of  them  get 
drowned,  so  there  it  was.  Mamma  cried,  and  I 
cried,  and  so  did  ever  so  many  ladies — but  Miss 
Werner  just  walked  around  and  kept  saying  she 
told  you  all  not  to  go,  and  she  knew  you  were 
sorry  you  didn't  take  her  advice." 


428  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

' '  How  did  you  manage  about  dinner  ?  ' '  asked 
Mrs.  Grayson.  "  We  didn't  know  until  the  boat 
left  that  you  had  forgotten  your  lunch  basket. 
Didn't  you  get  very  hungry  '?  " 

"  Hungry?"  repeated  Carl.  "I  should  think 
we  did;  but  when  the  storm  broke,  I  don't 
think  we  thought  any  more  about  our  appetites ; 
I'm  sure  I  didn't."  Then  turning  to  Mr.  Haw- 
kins, he  added,  "  We  missed  you,  Charhe;  but  I 
guess  you  are  glad  now  you  didn't  go  v/ith  us." 

"  No,  I  can't  say  that  I  am,''  he  returned,  "I 
fully  intended  going,  and  made  my  arrange- 
ments to  do  so,  but  at  the  the  last  moment  I 
found  that  some  friends  I  wanted  to  see  had 
arrived  on  the  train  the  evening  before,  and  as 
they  expected  to  spend  but  one  day  here,  I  stayed 
behind  to  be  with  them." 

"  From  Chapel  Hill,  were  thej  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
Hawleigh  from  the  foot  of  the  table. 

"  Yes.  one  of  them,  and  the  other  from  Rich- 
mond— Ed.  Carrington,  Maud;"  he  said,  turning 
to  his  wife,   "he  inquired  kindly  after  you." 

"xVh  1  I  shall  be  pleased  to  meet  him  this  even- 
ing. I  suppose  he  is  stopping  here — at  the  At- 
lantic ?  " 

"  Yes,  certainly." 

"  Who  is  that,  Mrs.  Hawkins  ?  "  Agnes  quickly 
asked,  stopping  in  the  midst  of  a  gay  conversa- 
tion with  Mr.  Hawleigh,  and  flashing  round. 

"'  Mr.  Carrington,  from  Richmond,  a  friend  of 
Mr.  Hawkins,  but — " 

"  Oh,  please  pardon  me,  my  dear  Mrs.  Haw- 
kins, ' '  she  returned  hastily,  the  color  deepening 
in  her  cheek.  "  I  was  mistaken  in  the  name,  I 
thought — I  understood  Mr.  Hawkins  to  say  Bar- 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  429 

riogton, "  and  then  with  a  playful  gesture  of  her 
hand,  she  turned  again  and  renewed  her  talk 
with  Mr.  Hawleigh,  now  and  again  ap])ealing  to 
Dr.  Leslie  to  settle  some  disputed  point  in  the 
subject  under  discussion.  Involuntarily  the  at- 
tention of  the  others  was  drawn  to  them,  and  at 
that  moment  they  heard  Dr.  Leslie  say : 

"Agnes,  I  think  you'll  either  have  to  retreat 
or  cry  for  quarters — better,  while  you  can  do  so 
gracefully." 

'•  No,  indeed,  I'll  do  nothiug  of  the  kind.  That 
would  be  submitting  to  a  suspicion  of  cowardice, 
and  I  can  never  be  guilty  of  that,  yon  know." 

''Secure  a  truce,  then,"  he  suggested,  in  a 
soothing  tone,  smiling. 

"  No,  sir;  on  the  contrary,  I  reaffirm  the  state- 
ment I've  just  made,  and  shall  retract  nothing;" 
then  shrugging  her  shoulders  and  glancing  at 
Mr.  Hawleigh,  added  gayly,  "  I'm  aware  that  I 
have  a  very  formidable  antagonist,  too,  but  I'll 
not  surrender. 

"  What's  the  contested  question  ?"  asked  Carl, 
looking  directly  at  Agnes,  who  met  his  gaze  with 
downcast  eyes.  "  Now,  I  don't  propose  to  come 
in  and  help  you  fight,  but  may  I  hope  you'll 
allow  me  to  share  some  of  the  glory  of  your  vic- 
torv?" 

Agnes  laughed,  and  bowed  to  him  with  ironi- 
cal deference.  "  That's  cool,  to  say  the  least; 
but  I  hardly  think— " 

She  stopped  suddenly  and  looked  round.  Some 
one  standing  at  the  back  of  her  chair  had  touched 
her  on  the  shoulder,  and  was  bending  to  speak 
to  her. 

"  Oh,  Miss  Waldorf,  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you. 
Won't  you  join  us  V     We  are  just  through  sup- 


430  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

per  and  were  chatting — that  is,  Mr.  Hawleigh 
and  I  were  doing  most  of  the  talking. ' ' 

Miss  Waldorf  glanced  toward  him  with  a  win- 
ning smile,  while  he  and  Carl  rose  at  the  same 
time  and  offered  her  a  seat, 

''  Oh,  no,  no — thank  you;  pray  don't  let  me 
disturb  you.  1  came  to  see  Miss  Glenwood.  I 
should  be  glad  of  a  word  with  you, ' '  tapping  her 
on  the  shoulder,  ' '  if  you  can  spare  a  minute  or 
two." 

''Why,  certainly;  as  many  as  you  like,  and 
I'm  ready  to  go  with  you  now.  Ruth,  I  depute 
you  to  finish  my  contest  with  Mr.  Hawleigh,  and 
be  sure  not  to  yield  him  one  iota  of  the  ground 
I've  gained.  Cousin  Helen,  I  take  it  for  granted 
that  you  all  will  excuse  me,"  and  with  that  she 
rose  and  accompanied  Miss  Waldorf  from  the 
room 

A  few  minutes  later  the  others  withdrew  from 
the  table,  and  in  passing  through  the  ball-room, 
Carl  saw  Agnes  in  the  far  end  of  the  room,  sur- 
rounded by  a  group  of  admirers,  among  whom 
was  a  tall,  handsome  stranger,  with  a  blase,  in- 
souciant air,  the  most  devoted  of  them  all.  In 
spite  of  himself  a  thrill  of  jealousy  stirred  his 
heart  as  he  watched  the  heightened  color  in  his 
cousin's  cheeks  and  the  bright  sparkle  of  her 
eyes;  but,  detaching  himself  from  his  mother 
and  her  party,  who  were  on  their  way  to  the  pier, 
in  his  easy,  graceful  fashion  he  sauntered  to- 
ward his  cousin,  stopping  to  talk  with  first  one 
friend  and  then  another,  who  accosted  him  as  he 
passed  along. 

The  band  was  playing  a  waltz,  and  there  were 
numerous  couples  gliding  over  the  smoothly  pol- 
ished floor ;  but  to-night,  somehow,  he  was  not 


IN    THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  431 

in  the  mood  for  dancing — in  fact,  his  favorite 
amusement  seemed  suddenly  to  have  lost  all  its 
charm  for  him ;  and  as  he  moved  along,  he  v^as 
just  wondering  why  the  voluptuous  strains  of  mu- 
sic did  not  quicken  his  pulse  and  make  him  thrill 
as  formerly,  when  a  friend  stopped  him  and  drew 
him  aside  for  a  social  chat. 

Very  near  where  they  stood  was  a  group  of 
ladies  talking  merrily,  and  suddenly  catching  the 
name  of  Grayson,  he  turned  to  see  who  it  was 
that  was  speaking  to  him. 

Just  then  one  of  them  was  saying,  ' '  Oh,  no, 
I  do  not  know  her  at  all,  but  of  course  one  can 
form  some  sort  of  an  opinion,  and  generally  a 
pretty  correct  one,  of  the  people  one  meets  from 
observation.  1  fancy  she  is  very  haughty,  ex- 
clusive, and  if  not  purse-proud,  she  certainly 
has  the  air  of  one  who  enjoys  her  money." 

The  voice  that  responded  to  this  uakind  re- 
mark was  Miss  Spencer's,  and  it  was  full  of  po- 
lite reproach,  and  a  dignity  that  rebuked  the 
speaker. 

"  Indeed,  you  mistake  her  entirely,  for  she  is 
not  really  so  at  all.  She  is  genial,  kind  and  gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  and  one  of  the  loveliest  Christian 
characters  I  ever  knew.  I  never  met  a  lady 
whom  I  esteem  and  admire  more.  As  for  en- 
joying her  money — yes,  why  not  ?  Doesn't  every- 
one who  has  it,  have  that  privilege  ?  and  besides 
enjoying  it  herself,  she  does  a  world  of  good 
with  it.  I  heard  a  few  days  since,  through  a 
friend  of  the  Graysons — a  lady  who  is  in  a  posi- 
tion to  know — that  there  are  three  young  ladies 
— deserving  girls,  without  means,  spending  sev- 
eral weeks  here,  and  all  through  Mrs.  Grayson's 
generosity.     I  am   confident  that  she  does  not 


432  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

care  to  have  this  fact  made  pubUc,  or  even  talked 
of  in  private,  and  I  merely  mention  it  now  out 
of  simple  justice  to  her.  I  have  no  idea  who  the 
girls  are  that  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  fall  into 
such  good  hands,  but  I'm  sure  it  is  true,  for  one 
of  them  told  the  lady  who  told  me  about  it. ' ' 

''  Ah!  I  only  wish  one  could  come  across  more 
such  magnanimous  people  nowadays,"  was  the 
sneering  answer  from  the  first  speaker. 

Carl  bit  his  lip  and  flashed  an  indignant  look 
at  the  woman  who  had  said  such  cruel  things 
about  his  sweet,  gentle  mother.  Miss  Spencer  was 
about  to  answer  her  when  she  chanced  to  turn 
round,  and  at  that  moment  saw  him,  and  though 
he  was  not  looking  in  her  direction,  she  knew  by 
the  peculiar  dull-red  that  burned  in  his  cheek 
and  the  quick  flash  of  his  handsome  eyes,  that 
he  had  overheard  their  conversation.  Sne  turned 
again  to  the  lady  with  whom  she  had  been  talk- 
ing and  said  something  to  her  in  an  undertone, 
and  he  was  satisfied  that  she  had  warned  her  of 
his  presence,  for  instantly  she  cast  a  hurried  and 
surprised  glance  toward  him,  regarding  him 
keenly  for  a  moment,  then  said  in  an  impatient 
tone,  still  sneering: 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  that  he  was  listen- 
ing ?  Perhaps  1  might  have  been  a  little  more 
guarded  in  my  remarks.  However,  what's  said 
can't  be  unsaid,  and  there's  no  need  to  worry 
over  a  trifle. ' '  But  it  was  obvious  that  she  was 
not  a  little  annoyed  that  she  had  not  been  more 
discreet. 

Carl  had  heard  enough.  He  excused  himself 
to  his  friend  and  made  his  way  at  once  to  Agnes, 
who,  when  she  saw  him  approaching,  smiled  so 
brightly  that  he  soon  forgot  his  bitter  thoughts, 


IN    THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  433 

and  the  prospect  of  spending  a  happy  evening 
with  her  restored  him  to  a  sense  of  well-being, 
and  his  usual  gay  and  high  spirits. 

Smiling  and  making  a  courtly  obeisance  to 
her,  he  ottered  her  his  arm,  on  which  she  lightly 
placed  her  white  gloved  hand,  and  glancing  round 
with  a  smile  upon  the  circle  of  friends  whom  she 
had  been  entertaining,  she  gracefully  excused 
herself  and  quitted  the  room  with  her  cousin. 

It  was  quite  late  that  night,  not  very  long- 
after  Ruth  and  Agnes  had  retired  and  ceased 
their  interchange  of  sweet  confidences,  that  the 
communicating  door  between  their  own  and  Mrs. 
Grayson's  room  was  noiselessly  opened,  and  some 
one  entered,  softly  approached  their  bedside,  and 
for  a  moment  stood  perfectly  still.  Ruth  had 
fallen  asleep  as  soon  as  Agnes  quit  talking — 
while  she,  ^ith  half-closed  eyes,  mused  and 
smiled  to  herself,  dreaming  sweet  dreams,  which 
thrilled  her  heart  with  a  joy  so  great  it  was 
almost  akin  to  pain. 

A  gentle  touch  on  her  hand  aroused  her  from 
her  reverie,  and  opening  wide  her  eyes,  she  met 
in  the  dim  light  the  frank  eyes  of  CarFs  mother 
looking  down  upon  her,  and  instinctively  she 
raised  her  soft  arms  and  let  them  steal  around 
her  neck,  whispering  half  aloud  the  sweet  word 
' '  mother. ' ' 


434  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XL. 

The  Graysons  were  at  home  again.  They  had 
left  the  seashore  before  the  gay  season  was  well 
over,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Hawkins  and  her 
baby  son,  Philip,  who  had  accepted  Mrs.  Gray- 
son's invitation  to  make  her  a  visit — a  visit  which 
Mrs.  Grayson  assured  her  she  had  been  looking 
forward  to  with  pleasurable  anticipation  ever 
since  her  promise  made  to  her  two  years  previ- 
ous, when  they  had  first  met  at  the  White  Sul- 
phur Springs  in  the  mountains — that  this  was  a 
most  favorable  opportunity  to  fulfil  that  prom- 
ise ;  and  now,  while  Mr.  Hawkins  was  absent  in 
New  York  on  business  in  the  interest  of  his  firm 
in  Richmond,  there  was  no  reason  why  she 
should  hurry  home  until  his  return. 

Without  much  difficulty,  Mrs.  Hawkins  had 
been  overcome  by  Mrs.  Grayson's  reasoning, 
and  much  to  the  dehght  of  them  all,  accompa- 
nied them  home.  Nellie  was  quite  beside  herself 
at  the  prospect  of  entertaining  Philip  at  her  own 
home,  and  immediately  began  devising  a  hun- 
dred ways  for  his  babyship's  amusement. 

Mrs.  Grayson,  ever  the  same  charming  woman 
at  home,  as  well  as  abroad,  had  spared  no  pains 
to  make  Mrs.  Hawkins'  visit  as  enjoyable  and 
delightful  as  posssible,  and  during  her  stay  had 
given  a  maguificent  dinner  party  specially  in  her 
honor;  and  this  was  followed  afterwards  by 
others,  not  only  dinner  parties,  but  teas  and  lun- 
cheons, given  in  the  circle  of  Mrs.  Grayson's 
friends  who  had  returned  from  their  summer 
wanderings,  and  to  all  of  these  pleasant  social 
gatherings  Mrs.  Hawkins  had  been  cordially  in- 
vited. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  435 

On  leaving  for  home  at  the  end  of  her  three 
weeks'  visit,  she  declared  in  all  earnestness,  that 
she  had  never  enjoyed  a  visit  anywhere  half  so 
much  in  her  life,  and  if  Mr.  Hawkins  were  with 
her,  she  believed  that  she'd  be  quite  content  to 
stay  for  good  and  all  just  where  she  was. 

"  But  as  that  cannot  be,"  she  continued,  with 
a  pleasant  little  laugh  to  Mrs.  Grayson,  as  they 
rolled  along  in  the  carriage  to  the  station,  "  you 
must  give  me  the  privilege  and  pleasure,  before 
a  great  while,  of  welcoming  you  to  my  own 
home,  in  the  beautiful  'city  on  the  James'.  In- 
deed, I  shall  be  so  glad  to  have  you  come,  all  of 
you — and  Mr.  Hawkins  and  I  will  do  all  we  can 
to  give  you  a  pleasant  time, ' '  she  said,  warmly, 
in  her  frank,  winning  way. 

It  was  not  until  their  return  from  the  seashore, 
that  Carl  had  written  to  Mr.  Glenwood,  asking 
his  consent,  or  the  honor,  as  he  had  laughingly 
told  Agnes,  of  becoming  his  son-in-law  and  apol- 
ogizing for  his  seeming  to  take  advantage  of  him 
by  wooing  his  Cousin  Agnes  without  first  asking 
his  sanction  to  pay  his  formal  addresses  to  her. 
Agnes  had  written  to  her  mother  at  the  same 
time,  telling  her  unreservedly,  as  a  dutiful 
daughter  should,  all  about  their  love  affairs;  and 
though  she  was  pretty  certain  what  her  mother's 
decision  would  be,  she  had  closed  her  letter  by 
saying,  a  little  hypocritically  it  must  be  acknowl- 
edged, "  Now,  I  hope  you'll  not  scold  me  very 
much,  dear  Mamma,  if  I  have  disappointed  you, 
but  you  know  I  have  always  been  devotedly  at- 
tached to  Carl,  and  to  tell  the  honest  truth,  I 
believe  now  I  have  always  loved  him  from  the 
first  more  than  I  ever  dared  to  acknowledge  even 
to  myself." 


436  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

The  answers  to  these  letters — CarFs  and  Ag- 
nes'— came  hi  due  tune;  and  when  Carl  recog- 
nized Mr.  Grlenwood's  handwriting  on  the  letter 
which  his  uncle  handed  to  hira  wdth  a  meaning 
smile,  w^ith  a  throhbing  heart  he  hurriedly  broke 
the  seal,  eager  to  learn  how  far  or  in  what  way 
his  answer  was  to  affect  his  engagement  with 
his  cousin. 

Mr,  Glenwood,  after  stating  that  Carl's  and 
Agnes'  engagement  was,  to  him,  an  unexpected 
development  of  things,  as  he  termed  it ;  that  he 
had  carefully  considered  and  reviewed  his  propo- 
sal, and  that  he  hoped  to  hve  to  see  his  daugh- 
ter well  and  happily  married  to  a  man  whom  he 
thoroughly  liked  and  respected — in  a  formal  and 
dignified  manner  gave  his  consent  for  Carl  to 
marry  her,  imposing,  however,  a  certain  condi- 
tion, which  Carl  could  not  help  thinking  was 
somewhat  hard  and  unreasonable,  yet  he  had  no 
choice  left  but  accede  to  unless  he  should  be  able 
to  prevail  upoQ  him  to  alter  it;  but,  from  the 
tone  of  his  letter  he  had  but  Uttle  hope  of  ac- 
complishing that. 

Mr.  r41enwood  went  on  to  say  that  for  personal 
reasons,  which  it  was  unnecessary  to  state,  he 
desired  their  marriage  be  postponed  for  at  least 
one  year ;  that  Agnes  had  been  absent  from  them 
so  long,  now  she  was  to  leave  them,  he  believed 
that  Carl  w^ould  agree  with  him  and  Mrs.  Glen- 
wood that  they  w^ere  right  in  wishing  to  have 
her  with  them  a  few  months  before  parting  from 
her  finally.  They  desired,  too,  that  Agnes  should 
return  home  the  following  December,  and  mean- 
while they  hoped  there  would  be  no  opposition 
or  obstacle  thrown  in  the  way  to  prevent  her 
obeying  their  wishes  in  this  matter,  and  so  on. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  437 

Disappointment  and  pique  showed  visibly  on 
his  face  as  he  read  Mr.  Glenwood's  letter,  but 
mastering  his  feelings,  he  took  it  at  once  to  Ag- 
nes to  read,  while  she  handed  him  the  letter  she 
had  received  from  her  mother.  There  was  silence 
until  they  had  read  and  exchanged  letters  again, 
then  she  looked  up  and  asked  simply : 

"  What  do  you  think  of  it  ?  What  can  we  do  ? 
Papa's  decision  will  compel  us  to  change  our 
present  plans." 

He  looked  at  her  a  moment  with  a  curious  ex- 
pression on  his  face  a,nd  sighed. 

' '  Sore  as  the  trial  is  to  me  to  wait  as  your 
father  suggests,  yet  1  fear  we  can  do  nothing 
else  at  present.  If  I  were  to  advise  you  as  my 
heart  prompts  me  at  this  moment,"  he  went  on, 
in  the  eager  tone  of  a  lover,  "  I  must  confess  it 
would  be  to  tempt  you  to  swerve  from  your  first 
duty  to  them — your  parents — and  persuade  you 
to  marry  me  without  delay;  but  an  equally  pow- 
erful motive  to  do  that  which  is  right  and  honor- 
able will  make  me  regard  their  wishes,  knowing, 
too,  that  I  owe  them  at  least  so  much."  He 
was  silent  a  moment,  then  resumed : 

"  Though  your  father  seems  so  terribly  in  ear- 
nest. I  shall  write  to  him  and  try  to  prevail  upon 
him  to  retract  or  change  the  condition  which  he 
has  imposed ;  and  tlien,  if  he  refuses, ' '  he  came 
closer  to  her  and  took  both  her  hands  in  his, 
"  the  only  thing  left  for  me  to  do  is  to  submit  to 
his  demand,  and  I  beg  you,  dear  Cousin,  to  be  as 
true  to  me  through  the  trying  probation  as  I 
shall  be  true  to  you — or  unless — , ' "  there  was  a 
change  in  his  voice — ,  ""  unless  you  wish  me  to 
release  you  from  an  engagement  which — " 

Hush,  hush,  you  shall  not  say  it,"  she  said 


i  i 


438  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

quickly,  with  playful  imperiousness,  laying  her 
hand  upon  his  hps.  "  I  will  not  hear  you.  You 
know  well  enough  you  are  going  to  say  some- 
thing to  wound  me.  and  I  repeat,  you  shall  not 
say  it.'' 

"I  won't,  then,"  he  said,  taking  her  hand  and 
holding  it  fast  in  his;  "  but  let  me  say  this,  Ag- 
nes, I  must  do  what  is  right,  whether'!  like  it  or 
not,  or  I  believe  the  result  would  eventually 
bring  grief  to  us  both." 

Agnes  drew  a  long  breath,  and  her  eyes  glis- 
tened— then  with  glowing  cheeks  she  looked  tear- 
fully up  into  his  face  and  said,  warmly.  ''  Carl, 
you  are  a  dear,  noble  fellow.  I  shall  make  no 
protest  against  your  determiration,  because  I 
know-  you  are  right ;  and  here  let  me  say,  too, 
that  you  will  find  it  no  easy  matter  to  coax  papa 
to  change  his  mind  now  that  it  is  made  up.  No ! 
I  know  him  too  well.  He  never  decides  hastily 
about  anything,  and  I  am  sure  about  this  par- 
ticular matter  he  has  sent  you  his  answer  after 
calmly,  thoughtfully  and  deliberately  considering 
it.  I  believe  it  is  best  to  let  matters  take  their 
course,  and  though  my  heart  break  for  it  I  say, 
let  us  wait. ' ' 

Looking  at  her  just  then — the  fair,  sweet  face 
he  loved  clouded  by  a  momentary  sadness,  it 
was  hard  to  find  it  in  his  heart  to  take  her  at 
her  word  and  wait — it  seemed  as  if  he  must 
brush  aside  all,  everything  that  hindered  their 
early  union,  decide  the  question  for  themselves, 
let  the  consequences  be  what  they  would. 

Suddenly  a  strange  look  flitted  across  his  face 
— a  look  as  though  he  were  struggling  to  conquer 
some  inward  emotion  fighting  hard  to  get  the 
mastery  of  him.  Then  he  took  her  hand,  and 
said  in  a  tender  voice : 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  439 

"  How  I'm  tempted,  Agnes.  But  for  all  that 
I  must  do  right.  I  will  go  now  and  leave  you, 
and  not  prolong  the  pain  to  both  by  discussing 
what  is  inevitable.  I  love  yon,  dear  Cousin,  too 
well  for  this,  and  so  saying,  with  a  look  of 
pain  in  his  eyes,  he  gently  put  her  from  him, 
then  went  out  and  left  her  alone. 

The  days  wore  on  faster  than  ever  it  seemed 
to  Agnes,  bringing  consciously  near  the  time 
when  she  must  leave  the  new  and  strong  friend- 
ships which  she  had  found  in  the  Old  North 
State,  and  return  to  her  home  in  the  far  West — 
a  home  from  which  she  had  been  absent  so  long, 
that  already  she  was  beginning  to  feel  that  it 
was  no  longer  hers;  and  now  especially  was  this 
true,  since  a  new,  absorbing  interest  had  come 
into  her  life. 


440  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

Summer  had  gradually  lost  her  identity  under 
the  gorgeous  canopy  of  autumn,  and  for  the  next 
few  weeks  all  Nature  was  masquerading  in  bril- 
liant attire. 

Two  weeks  before  Carl,  inspired  with  high 
hopes  and  aspirations,  had  left  for  Baltimore  to 
enter  upon  the  study  of  medicine,  and  to  prepare 
himself  for  that  profession  for  which  he  had  a 
natural  and  genuine  liking,  and  which  profes- 
sion he  had  often  declared  was  to  be  the  one  to 
lead  him  into  a  career  of  usefulness  and  renown, 
and  certainly  after  events  proved  that  it  was  the 
very  one  for  which  he  had  been  destined. 

It  was  early  one  lovely  morning,  and  Ruth  had 
just  finished  her  toilet,  and  stood  beside  the  win- 
dow in  her  room,  looking  far  away,  where  a  de- 
licious blueness  misted  the  tree-tops. 

She  had  already  roused  Agnes  out  of  her 
peaceful  slumbers,  and  reminded  her  of  her 
j^romise  to  go  driving  with  her  before  the  sun 
was  fairly  up.  Agnes  protested  at  first,  and 
vowed  she  would  rather  have  slept;  but  now  she 
was  standing  before  the  mirror  bestowing  a  last 
finishing  touch  to  her  hair,  and  sleepily  studying 
the  effect  of  a  novel  arrangement  of  her  fluffy, 
short  curls,  which  every  now  and  then  she 
touched  up  with  a  quick  gesture  from  her  rosy 
finger  tips. 

Presently  she  turned  and  cast  a  hurried  glance 
toward  the  window  where  Ruth  still  stood,  mo- 
tionless, and  making  a  pretty  picture. 

"  You  darling, "  cried  Agnes,  in  her  impetu- 
ous way.     How  sweet  and  patient  you  are,  and 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  441 

I've  certainly  been  enough  to  try  you.  Never 
mind,  I'll  be  ready  now,  real  soon.  I'll  tell  you, 
no  one  in  the  world  but  you  could  have  coaxed  me 
to  forego  my  morning's  nap  and  go  for  a  drive  be- 
fore sunrise;  but  you  know  I'd  do  anything  for 
you.  '  And  thus  she  rambled  on  for  the  next 
ten  minutes,  till  she  was  dressed,  and  then  play- 
fully slipping  her  hand  through  Ruth's  arm,  hur- 
ried her  down-stairs. 

In  the  hall  they  encountered  Dr.  Leslie,  who 
had  just  emerged  from  the  library,  and  had  sev- 
eral letters  in  his  hand  ready  to  post.  He  looked 
up  with  a  sudden  glance,  and  stopped  instantly. 

' '  Where  are  you  two  going  ?  "  he  asked,  smil- 
ing, and  looked  puzzled.  "  I  fancy  this  is  a  new 
departure  for  you,  Agnes,"  he  continued,  turn- 
ing to  her.  "A  walk  before  breakfast,  and  even 
sunrise. ' ' 

' '  Oh,  we  are  not  going  to  walk,  I  assure  you, ' ' 
she  returned,  laughing  gayly.  ' '  No,  indeed ; 
I'm  too  lazy  for  that.  But  there's  Ruth — Avell. 
that  sort  of  a  'constitutional'  may  suit  her,  but 
I  prefer  one  more  agreeable.  Cousin  Helen  has 
ordered  the  carriage  for  us,  and  we  are  going  to 
the  boulevards.  Just  now  everyone  is  raving 
over  the  richness  and  beauty  of  the  autumn  foli- 
age, and  we  are  going  to  see  it  for  ourselves  'un- 
der the  glory  of  the  morning  sun,'  as  Rtith  says. 
Miss  Duval  told  us  yesterday  that  the  boulevards 
were  never  so  beautiful,  and  if  we  wished  to  see 
them  at  their  best,  we  should  see  them  now. 
You  might  come,  too,  if  you  liked,"  she  added, 
smiling  archly  up  into  his  face,  "  We  shall  be 
so  glad  to  have  you. ' ' 

"  I  wish  I  could,  but  you'll  have  to  excuse  me 
this  morning, "  he  replied,  with  a  glance  at  Ruth, 
29 


442  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES ;    OR, 

upon  whose  cheek  a  conscious  flush  came  deep- 
ening. "But,  surely,  you  are  not  going  without 
breakfast,  are  you  ?  "  he  asked,  taking  his  hat 
from  the  rack  preparatory  to  going  out. 

"  No.  Juha  has  gone  now  to  prepare  a  most 
inviting  feast  for  us,'*  said  Ruth,  looking  in  the 
direction  of  the  dining-room.  "  Ah,  here  she 
comes  now  with  a  basket  of  fruit,  which  we 
shall  take  with  us;  and,  there  is  the  carriage 
waiting.     We  would  better  go." 

It  was  one  of  the  loveliest  of  October  mornings, 
with  ail  its  glowing  colors  upon  the  full-foliaged 
woods,  and  the  broad,  bright  fields  belting  the 
city.  The  crisp,  autumnal  air  was  pervaded  with 
that  soft  Indian  summer  haze,  which  made  the 
landscape  picture  so  mystically  beautiful  that 
one  could  not  help  fancying  that  Titian  would 
have  rejoiced  to  revel  in  it. 

It  was  still  early  when  Ruth  and  Agues  reached 
the  boulevard,  but  now  the  sun  was  slow! 5' 
climbing  up  above  the  tree-tops,  and  as  the 
shafts  of  sunlight  struck  the  mica-dust  glitter- 
ing like  crushed  silver  in  the  white  graveled 
roadway,  then  flashed  over  the  iris-colored 
woods  wreathed  in  feathery  mist,  they  both  ex- 
claimed simultaneously : 

' '  Oh,  how  beautiful  I     How  entrancing !  ' ' 

As  they  drove  further  and  further  on  into  the 
cool,  enchanted  parkland,  leaving  the  busy  hum 
of  life  behind  them,  the  sylvan  vistas  glowed, 
heroically  rejoicing,  as  though  unmindful  that 
their  Gethsemane  agony  was  so  near  at  hand. 

Each  spear  of  grass  was  helmed  in  crystal  foil. 

Ruth  turned  her  radiant  face  to  Agnes  and 
said,  enthusiastically,  "  Isn't  it  gorgeous  ?  Isn't 
it  lovely  ?  Do  stop  the  ponies,  Agnes,  and  let 
me  get  out  here." 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  443 

"What  for?"  Agnes  asked  in  a  surprised 
tone. 

"  I  want  to  get  a  view  of  this  from  that  bluff 
on  the  left, ' '  nodding  in  the  direction  of  the 
point.  "  I'm  sure  the  view  must  be  magnificent 
from  there."  Agues  drew  the  ribbons  on  the 
pretty  travelers,  and  they  came  to  an  impatient 
halt. 

"But  don't  you  wish  to  see  it,  too?"  Ruth 
asked,  turning  to  Agnes,  as  she  was  about  to 
get  out.  "  Suppose  you  let  me  hold  the  ponies, 
and  you  go  first  ?     I  can  see  it  afterwards." 

"  You  unselfish  creature,"  laughed  Agnes,  "I 
guess  I  can  see  it  afterwards,  too.  You  go  on. 
I  suspect  it  will  keep  till  I  have  a  chance  to  see 
it,"  she  added,  nudging  Ruth  from  her  with  her 
elbow,  and  with  the  long  whip  she  flicked  a  fly 
off  Nabob's  back.  The  pony  gave  a  wicked 
prance. 

"  Do  hold  them  fast,  Agnes,"  Ruth  urged,  as 
she  sprang  lightly  to  the  ground ;  then  turning 
a  little  way  back  to  where  the  bluff  started  and 
gradually  sloped  upward,  she  ran  easily  to  the 
top. 

With  one  small,  white  hand  uplifted  to  shade 
her  face  from  the  g;laring  rays  of  the  sun  which 
smote  through  a  rift  in  the  gorgeous  canopy,  she 
stood,  her  body  swaying  with  rhythmic  motion 
as  she  turned  from  right  to  left,  drinking  in  the 
beauty  and  freshness  of  the  brilliant  scene  around 
her. 

Overhead  the  sky  was  a  clear,  pale  blue,  and 
not  a  cloud  was  visible  upon  the  bell-shaped 
dome. 

Across  the  roadway,  and  almost  at  her  feet, 
lay  a  quiet  glade,  sun-barred,  but  cool  and  flower- 


444  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

scented.  A  little  cabin  stood  a  short  way  back, 
rudel}^  breaking  the  charm  of  perfect  harmony 
in  the  glowing  landscape. 

A  few  scattered  houses  of  grayish  hue  dotted 
a  distant  hillside,  and  from  the  chimney  of  one 
rose  a  blue  film  of  smoke  that  floated  lazily 
across  the  light,  tender  blue  of  the  heavens,  hov- 
ered a  moment  above  the  tree-tops,  like  wings  of 
birds,  and  then  resumed  its  way. 

"  The  prospect  is  glorious  from  up  there,  and  I 
want  you  to  see  it,"  said  Euth,  as  she  took  her 
seat  beside  Agnes,  and  then  put  out  her  hand  to 
take  the  reins  and  whip. 

"  No,  not  now.  The  ponies  are  restless,  and 
I  don't  believe  they'll  stand  another  minute.  I 
can  get  just  as  pretty  view  from  some  other 
point,  for  there  seems  to  be  new  beauties  and 
surprises  all  along  the  way,"" 

"  Yes,  I  think  so,  too,  answered  Kath,  "I  don't 
think  I  ever  saw  autumn  tints  half  so  lovely 
as  they  are  now. ' '  Then  glancing  over  the  woods, 
added  with  a  gleam  of  spirit :  "  If  these  beauti- 
ful woodland  acres  were  mine,  not  another  tree 
should  be  felled  upon  them.  It  is  an  act  of  per- 
fect vandalism  to  cut  these  magnificent  oaks. 
Why,  to  me,  some  trees  possess  so  much  indi- 
viduality, that  they  seem  almost  human.  What 
grand  monuments,  too,  they  are,  reminding  us 
of  the  days  without  a  history.  Oh,  I  do  wish 
these  could  be  spared." 

''  Whoa!  "  Agnes  suddenly  tightened  the  reins 
and  the  ponies  came  to  a  halt.  "  Which  way 
shall  we  go,  to  the  right  or  left  ?  "  she  asked, 
turning  to  Ruth. 

They  had  reached  a  slight  elevation,  where 
two  roadways  swerved  gracefully  away  on  either 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  445 

side,  and  Ruth  cast  an  undecided,  anticipatory 
glance  down  each  glowing  inlet. 

On  the  right,  the  curving  roadway,  smooth 
and  shining,  wound  through  crimson  bushes 
and  golden  leaves  crowning  the  tall  trees,  which 
flung  tremulous  shadows  across  tlie  way,  then 
suddenly,  slipped  out  of  sight  behind  a  flower- 
starred  blufi". 

To  the  left,  the  sunlit  drive  sloped  gently 
downward,  and  where  the  shadows  darkly  lurked, 
a  gurgling  stream  leapevd  across,  spanned  by  a 
rustic  bridge,  and  then  the  road  rose  smooth  and 
white  on  the  other  side. 

Ruth  drew  a  long  breath  and  filled  her  lungs 
with  the  delicious  aroma  with  which  the.  air  was 
charged  through  and  through.  It  seemed  she 
had  never  realized  before  how  inconceivable  the 
joy  of  living  in  such  a  splendid  luminous  day  as 
this.     To  exist  was  exultation. 

"  Well,  I-Qi  waiting,''  said  Agnes.  "  Decide 
which  way." 

Suddenly  and  almost  simultaneously  the  re- 
port of  three  rifle  shots  broke  the  sylvan  quiet, 
and  the  surrounding  hills  beat  back  the  obtrud- 
ing echoes. 

Quick  as  a  flash  the  mettlesome  ponies  gave 
a  startled  leap  and  plunged  forward,  but  Agnes 
held  them  with  a  firm,  strong  grip,  while  she 
coaxed  them  back  into  their  former  submissive- 
ness.  Somehow,  this  morning,  they  seemed  bent 
on  tragic  mischief,  but  she  held  them  with  the 
zest  and  vigor  of  conscious  mastery. 

At  that  moment  two  negro  boys  scantily  clad, 
and  with  brown  bare  feet  and  legs,  emerged  from 
the  dewy  depths  of  a  ruddy  thicket  near  the 
bridge,  each  with  a  gun  and  accompanied  by  sev- 


446  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

eral  mongrel  hounds,  which  scampered  here  and 
there,  with  tails  up  and  noses  lifted,  as  if  ques- 
tioning the  woodland  fastnesses  for  a  fresh  scent 
of  game.  Then  a  large  tan  hound,  w^ho  seemed 
to  lead  the  pack,  whined  softly,  sniffed  the  air, 
and  with  tail  erect,  started  off,  hythmically  bay- 
ing, up  the  winding  road. 

The  boys  crossed  the  bridge  and  strolled  slowly 
on  in  the  direction  the  dogs  had  taken. 

''  Suppose  we  follow  them,"  suggested  Ruth, 
meaning  the  boys,  "  and  then  w^e  can  drive 
beyond  the  bridge  and  return  by  the  road  on  the 
left,  unless  you  wish  to  go  another  route. ' ' 

''Just  as  you  say."  Agnes  gave  the  ponies 
an  admonitory  tap  with  the  tasseled  end  of  the 
whip,  and  they  fell  quietly  into  their  easy  mov- 
ing gait  down  the  sanded  drive. 

Just  as  they  crossed  the  bridge,  a  freshened 
breeze  whisked  a  shower  of  yellow  leaves  across 
the  freckled  roadway,  then  trundled  them  long 
with  a  sibilant  timbre  down  a  darkling  nook 
against  the  buttress  of  the  bridge. 

''  That's  a  pretty  view  of  the  Military  School, " 
said  Agnes,  flirting  her  whip  in  the  direction  of 
the  martial  quarters,  whose  handsome  buildings 
and  well-kept  grounds  were  upon  a  commanding- 
eminence  to  the  right;  "  I've  a  notion  to  drive 
over  there, ' '  she  went  on,  with  twinkling  eyes, 
''  if  somebody  wouldn't  suspect  me  of  entertain- 
ing sentimental  designs  upon  one  or  more  of  thi 
cadets." 

Ruth  turned  and  looked  at  her  with  unex- 
pected seriousness,  as  though  she  wondered  what 
Agnes  meant  by  such  a  capricious  speech. 

"  You,  dearie,"  Agnes  burst  out  laughing.  "I 
knew  I  would  startle  you.     I  have  no  idea  of 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  447 

doing  anything  of  the  kind.  But  here  we  are  at 
the  bluff  from  which  I'm  to  have  my  view  of 
the  promised  land,  and  if  you'll  hold  these  little 
wicked  blacks,  I'll  jump  out  right  here,  and  you 
can  drive  on  past  that  clump  of  willows  to  the 
right  and  wait  for  me  a  little  beyond  where  the 
roads  fork," 

Ruth  took  the  russet  reins,  and  then  placed 
the  slender  whip  in  its  rack.  Agnes  had  got  out. 
and  the  n^xt  moment  began  to  scale  the  tall 
bluff  fronting  the  Military  School,  while  Ruth 
drove  to  the  point  she  had  indicated ;  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  sun-glare,  turned  and  drove  back 
under  the  protecting  shadow  of  the  hill,  whose 
side  rose  almost  perpendicular  to  quite  a  height. 
She  glanced  upward  as  soon  as  she  had  stopped 
the  ponies,  and  saw  Agnes  standing  right  above 
her,  smiling  and  gesturing  to  her. 

"  Can't  you  find  some  one  to  hold  the  ponies, 
and  come  up,  too?"  she  called  down.  "You 
have  Qo  idea  how  beautiful  it  is. ' ' 

' '  I  should  like  to  come. ' '  said  Ruth,  looking 
ruefully  up  at  Agnes,  "  but  the  trouble  is  to  find 
'the  some  one'  to  hold  the  ponies." 

Just  then  two  horsemen  in  bucolic  garb  ap- 
peared around  a  sudden  curve,  stared  stolidly, 
and  passed  on.  Scarcely  had  they  gone  out  of 
sight  before  a  half-grown  boy,  wearing  a  slouched 
hat  that  nearly  hid  his  face,  came  trudging 
along,  whistling  softly  to  himself. 

"Ruth,  there's  your  opportunity,"  said  Ag- 
nes, looking  down  with  an  amused  smile  and 
speaking  under  breath.  "There's  'the  some 
one  '  to  hold  the  ponies. "  She  glanced  at  the  boy 
now  passing  neai'  the  carriage, 

Ruth  accosted  him  at  once. 


448  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Good-morning,  sir.  Won't  you  do  a  favor 
for  me  ?  Won't  you  hold  these  ponies  till  I  go 
up  on  that  hill  to  look  at  those  buildings  over 
there?"  waving  her  hand  toward  the  Military 
School.  "  I'll  not  keep  you  long,  and  I'll  be  very 
much  obliged. ' '  Her  tone  was  kind  and  per- 
suasive. 

The  boy  stopped,  hesitated,  and  then  looked  at 
the  ponies  apprehensively. 

' '  Be  thay  uns  gentul  ?  "  he  asked,  pointing  to 
the  ponies  with  an  awkward  v\^ave  of  his  hand. 

"Oh,  yes,  if  you'll  manage  them  right;  but 
I  don't  want  you  to  drive,  but  just  hold  them. 
I  don't  believe  they  much  like  the  locomotive 
whistle,  but  I  hardly  think  a  train  is  due  this 
way  in  several  hours — unless — yes,  there  may 
be  a  freight  train. ' ' 

The  boy  still  wavered.  Ruth  gave  him  a  look 
full  of  entreaty,  and  supposing  his  hesitancy  re- 
sulted from  another  cause  than  embarrassment, 
said  in  a  half-apologetic  tone,  as  if  she  were 
afraid  of  giving  offence : 

"  Of  course  I  shall  pay  you  for  your  time  and 
trouble."  She  took  out  her  purse,  and  held  it 
in  her  hand. 

The  next  moment  he  moved  mechanically 
across  the  road,  walked  to  the  heads  of  the  po- 
nies and  with  a  cautious  hand  took  hold  of  the 
check  rein.  Suddenly  Nabob  threw  up  his  head 
with  a  resentful  toss,  flared  his  nostrils,  and  eyed 
the  boy  inquisitoriaUy,  w^hile  Prince  stood  un- 
concernedly quiet  as  if  disdaining  any  notice  of 
the  wary  interference,  further  than  a  furtive 
glance. 

The  boy  let  go  the  rein  and  stepped  back. 

"  Oh,  Nabob  often  does  that  way  to  stran- 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  449 

gers, ' '  said  Ruth,  getting  out  of  the  carriage  and 
going  up  to  the  unruly  horse.  "  I  think  he  just 
does  it  to  see  if  they  are  afraid  of  him.  But  he's 
a  real  nice  fellow  for  all  that,  aren't  you,  Naboh, 
and  are  you  going  to  behave  nicely  ?  "  she  asked, 
playfully  patting  his  glossy  neck.  Then  turn- 
ing to  the  boy  again : 

' '  You  can  sit  in  the  carriage  if  you  like,  per- 
haps you  can  manage  them  better. ' ' 

"•  Nor,  marm;  I'd  ruther  stan"  rite  harye,  an' 
hold  'em.  I  Weave  thet  thar  Nabog,  as  you  uns 
call  'em,  has  got  ther  very  tarnul  debil  in  'em.  I 
nuver  seed  a  horse  show  ther  white  uv  his  eyes 
thet  wern't  mean.  Jest  see  'em  backen  his 
years,  too." 

Ruth  laughed  good-naturedly. 

"  Aren't  you  coming,  Ruth  ?  "  Agnes  called  to 
her  in  a  far-off  voice,  which  came  to  her  faintly 
down  the  blaff,  for  she  was  going  up  toward  the 
crest. 

' '  Yes,  in  a  minute, ' '  Ruth  answered.  The  boy 
glanced  up  perplexedly,  in  the  direction  the  voice 
had  come. 

"  Now,  you  hold  the  horses  till  I  come  back. 
There's  something  for  your  trouble,"  said  Ruth, 
slipping  a  half  dollar  into  his  sun-browned  hand. 
The  boy  eyed  it  incredulously,  then  put  it  into 
his  pocket. 

Ruth  started  off,  then  turned  back.  A  new 
impulse  came  to  her. 

''  I  forgot  to  ask  you — what  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  Joe — Joe  Simpson,"  he  said,  dimly  wonder- 
ing why  she  should  wish  to  know. 

"  Do  you  live  in  the  country,  and  anywhere 
near  here  ?  ' ' 

"  Yes,  I  liv  jest  back  uv  them  houses  over 
thayre, "  nodding  his  head. 


450  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Ruth  glanced  the  way  he  nodded. 

"  Oh,  not  far  away,  then  ?  "  she  said. 

"  Nor,  sum  three  miles  ur  more, ' '  he  answered, 
in  a  sort  of  resentful  tone,  as  if  he  objected  to 
being  questioned  further. 

"  Very  well,  Joe.  I'm  going  now.  I  think 
the  ponies  will  be  good,  and  not  give  you  any 
trouble.  But  should  a  train  come  along,  be  sure 
to  be  careful  and  keep  a  tight  hold  of  the  reins. 
You  musn't  let  them  think  you  are  afraid  of 
them." 

She  went  to  the  slant  whence  Agnes  had  be- 
gun the  ascent,  and  followed  her  with  leisurely 
steps  up  to  the  summit. 

"What  kept  you,  darling?"  Agnes  asked, 
when  Ruth  had  reached  her.  "  I  saw  the  boy 
take  hold  of  the  ponies,  and  thought  the  matter 
was  settled,  so  I  came  on  thinking  you  would 
overtake  me." 

"  Yes,  but  I  had  to  coax  him,"  she  explained. 
"  He  was  afraid  of  the  horses  at  first,  yet  I  don't 
think  they'll  give  him  any  trouble." 

Agnes  interrupted  her.  "  Now,  isn't  that 
grand  over  there — and  there — and  there,"  point- 
ing toward  the  various  points.  "  And  this  air! 
Isn't  it  delicious,  sweet,  fresh  and  cool  ?  I  don't 
wonder  you  have  so  many  hoary  heads  here- 
abouts. People  can't  die  in  an  atmosphere  like 
this.   Why,  I  feel  as  if  I  could  live  always,  here. " 

She  threw  up  her  hands  with  a  pretty  chal- 
lenge and  laughed  for  very  joy  in  the  rich  ful- 
ness of  perfect  health. 

Ruth  did  not  answer  her,  but  stood  silent,  her 
face  glowing.  She  rarely  spoke  when  strong 
emotions  held  her.  Her  attitude  was  more  ex- 
pressive and  eloquent  than  anything  she  could 
have  uttered. 


IN   THE    NEW   ELDORADO.  451 

With  her  hands  tighth^  clasped  before  her,  as 
one  in  the  act  of  passioaate  adoration,  she  seemed 
to  see  in  actual  existence  what  Israel's  leader 
saw  by  faith  in  the  vista  of  futurity. 

At  last  Ruth  withdrew^  her  gaze,  sighed  softly, 
and  turning  to  Agnes,  said  simply. 

"  Come.  Let's  go.  I  fear  the  boy  has  grown 
impatient." 

"  But  don't  you  feel  repaid  for  coming  ?"  asked 
Agnes,  gathering  a  cluster  of  waxlike  leaves  and 
crimson  berries,  and  then  fastened  them  in  the 
bosom  of  her  dress. 

'"Yes,  indeed,  more  than  repaid,"  she  an- 
swered. 

They  had  been  descending  the  bluff  mean- 
while, and  now  returned  to  the  carriage  where 
the  boy,  with  an  impatient  air,  still  held  the 
fidgety  horses. 

"  Well,  I  didn't  intend  to  keep  you  waiting  so 
long, ' '  Ruth  began,  apologetically,  ' '  but  I  hope 
you  didn't  mind." 

"  Nor,  not  mutch,"  he  answered  candidly. 

"Oh,  no,  I'm  sure  you  didn't  mind,''  inter- 
posed Agnes  brightly,  smiling  at  him.  "  Now, 
I'm  going  to  give  you  some  of  our  grapes  and 
pears,  for  keeping  you  so  long.  W"e  brought  them 
along  for  our  breakfast,  but  we  can't  eat  them 
all.  Do  you  like  fruit  ?  "  She  took  the  basket 
from  the  seat  of  the  carriage  as  she  spoke  and 
approached  him. 

•*  Here,  tell  me,"  she  went  on,  in  a  friendly 
way,  ' '  did  you  ever  see  any  grapes  and  pears  as 
fine  as  these  ?  I  don't  believe  you  can  raise  such 
fruit  as  this  here,  or  in  North  Carolina  anvwhere, 
though  you  have  almost  everything  that  one 
wants  or  can  even  think  of.  See,  aren't  these 
pears  beauties  ?  ' '    She  held  up  two  of  the  finest. 


452  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OK. 

The  boy  merely  glanced  at  them  with  a  sort  of 
contemptuous  smile,  and  looked  away.  "  Yes, 
thay  uns  air  rite  nice.''  he  said,  carelessly,  '"but 
we  uns  ken  rase  jest  as  good  uns  an'  jest  as  big 
uns  in  Norf  Caroliner.  An'  them  thayre  green 
grapes — ugh!  thay  ain't  mutch.  We  uns  got 
plenty  rite  bout  harye  ur  grate  site  bettar. " 

' '  Why,  John, ' '  Agnes  laughed  merrily — ' '  Joe. ' ' 
suggested  Ruth,  smiling.  ''  Well  Joe,  then," 
Agnes  corrected,  and  continued  laugriing.  "These 
splendid  pears  came  all  the  way  from  my  home 
in  California,  and  these  Malaga  grapes  came 
from  that  State,  too ;  but  not  where  I  live.  Sup- 
pose you  taste  one  and  see  how  you  like  it;  and 
if  you  think  they  are  nice,  I'll  give  you  this 
whole  bunch.     Here,  just  try  one." 

He  looked  toward  Ruth  questioningiy.  "  Yes, 
Joe,  try  one."  she  said,  ''  I  believe  you  will  like 
it;  I  think  they  are  excellent." 

Agnes  plucked  one  from  the  bunch  and  handed 
it  to  him.  "  Now,  if  you  don't  say  that  is  nice, 
I'll  think  you  don't  know  a  good  thing  when 
you  see  it." 

The  boy  took  it  doubtfully,  and  slowly  put  it 
into  his  mouth,  while  Ruth  and  Agnes,  smilingly 
watched  him. 

"  Well,  how  do  vou  like  it?"  Agnes  asked. 
"Nice,  isn't  it'?" 

"  Ther  thing's  so  tarnul  tuff  I  can't  bite  it, " 
he  said,  holdiag  the  grape  between  his  teeth. 

"  Well,  I'll  promise  you  it'll  not  melt  in  your 
mouth,"  Agnes  said.  "Now  bite  it."  He  let 
his  teeth  come  suddenly  down  upon  it,  and  then 
swallowed  it  with  a  gulp,  holding  his  hand  to 
his  throat. 

"  Why,  Joe,  what  made  you  do  that  ?  What's 
the  matter  ?     Don't  you  Kke  it  ?  " 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  453 


a 


Stuff  I    I  bleave  I'm  pisined, "  he  answered, 
with  rising  indignation. 

Agnes  burst  out  into  a  merry  laugh.  "  What 
an  idea!  Of  course  you  are  not.  See  here.  I'm 
going  to  eat  some  of  the  these  grapes  from  the 
same  bunch,  and  if  you  are  poisoned — then  I'm 
poisoned."  She  ate  three  or  four,  and  passed  the 
bunch  to  Ruth.     ' '  You  may  try  them,  too. ' ' 

Ruth  smiled,  took  the  grapes  and  began  to  eat 
them. 

'•  Wei],  I  see  very  plainly,  Joe,  that  you  don't 
like  Malaga  grapes,"  Agnes  said,  "  and  I  can't 
teach  you  to  like  them.  But  here  are  the  pears — 
you  may  have  these  two  if  you  like. "    .  ' 

"  Yes,  I'll  take  'em.  I  don't  eat  'em  myself; 
but  I  ken  sell  'em." 

"  Very  well.  I  don't  care  what  you  do  with 
them.     You  are  welcome  to  them." 

She  turned  to  Ruth  and  said  something  to  her 
in  a  low  tone,  and  the  next  moment  Ruth  took 
out  her  purse  and  opened  it. 

"  How  much '?  "  she  asked,  holding  the  purse 
toward  Agnes. 

"  Oh,  anything  you  like.  I'll  make  you  my 
almoner.  A  dollar  or  so — five  dollars,  if  you 
haven't  less.  You  are  in  the  habit  of  dispen 
sing  '' — she  was  about  to  say  alms,  but  instead, 
said — '"good  deeds.  Hereafter  I  shall  always 
take  my  purse  with  me,  so  as  to  be  prepared— 
as  you  are,  you  know. ' ' 

Ruth  handed  the  boy  the  money,  a  gold  piece; 
he  took  it,  examined  it,  and  then  stared  first  at 
Ruth  and  then  Agnes. 

"  I  spect  you  uns  didn't  mean  to  gim  me  so 
mutch?" 

"Oh,    yes;    that's    all    right,"    said    Agnes, 


454  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

quickly—"  you  keep  it,  and  when  you  do  us  an- 
other favor,  well  give  you  some  more/'  Then 
turning  to  Ruth—"  Come,  darling;  we  must  be 
going.  Cousin  Helen  will  be  wondering  what 
has  become  of  us,  and  I  just  know  Cousin  Ralph 
will  think  the  ponies  have  run  away,  or  some- 
thing terrible  has  happened/' 

The  girls  got  into  the  carriage,  while  the  boy 
stood  beside  the  horses  and  made  a  show  of  hold- 
ing them.  "  Now,  that  will  do,  Joe.  You  may 
give  me  the  reins, ' '  Agnes  said,  cheerily.  "Thank 
you.  See,  they  are  in  a  hurry  to  be  going. 
"  Good-bye,  Joe,"  they  both  called  out,  and  the 
horses  were  off. 

By  the  time  they  reached  home  breakfast  was 
ready,  which  fact  Nellie  announced  from  the 
front  veranda,  where  she  and  her  mother  were 
apparently  watching  for  them.  Agnes  ran  up 
the  steps  declaring  that  she  felt  as  if  she  had 
taken  a  tonic,  which  had  set  her  all  a-tingling. 

"  Then  I  suppose  you  are  quite  ready  for  your 
breakfast,*'  said  Mrs.  Grayson. 

"Indeed  I  am,  and  I  hope  Aunt  Milly  has 
some  of  those  nice  corn-muffins,  that  no  one  can 
make  half  as  good  as  she.  But  where  is  Cousin 
Ralph?"  she  asked,  breaking  abruptly  off  and 
glancing  round,  "  I  wanted  to  see  him  before  he 
went  out. ' ' 

"  Very  well,  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  accom- 
modate you,"  Dr.  Leshe  said,  stepping  through 
the  open  window  upon  the  veranda.  "  "  Do  you 
wish  to  see  me  now,  or  will  after  breakfast  do 
as  well?"  he  added,  with  an  amused  laugh. 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Ralph  !  "  she  cried,  turning  sud- 
denly round,  much  taken  by  surprise.  "  I  didn't 
know  you  were  anywhere  near;  but  I  am  so 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  455 

glad.  We  had  a  perfectly  glorious  time  this 
morning,  and  you  should  have  gone  with  us. 
You  don't  know  how  much  you  missed." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it.  But  is  that  what  you 
wanted  to  see  me  about  ?  "  he  asked.  He  could 
not  help  smiling  at  her  tone. 

"  No,  no;  you  know  it  is  not — but,  something- 
else — quite  another  matter  altogether.  I  will  tell 
you  " — she  paused. 

"  Well  ?  "  he  inquired. 

She  shook  her  head  and  listened.  A  silver 
bell  was  ringing,  and  Mrs.  Grayson  was  saying, 
"  Come,  let  us  go  to  breakfast." 


456  UNDER    GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

Through  the  bright,  hapjDy  weeks  which  fol- 
lowed, weeks  of  almost  unbroken  gaiety  for  Ruth 
and  Agnes,  the  flying  shuttle  of  Time  was  silently 
linking  together  and  weaving  in  its  ever  busy 
loom,  the  tangled  broken  thrums,  as  well  as  the 
smooth  silver  threads,  of  certain  human  Uves  in 
our  story,  and  fashioning  them  into  a  strangely 
checkered  web. 

It  only  lacked  a  week  of  the  day  fixed  for 
Agnes'  departure  for  home.  It  was  Thanksgiv- 
ing day,  clear,  bright  and  breezy.  As  was  the 
custom  on  this  day,  divine  service  was  being 
held  in  a  number  of  the  city  churches,  and  at  one 
of  these,  the  First  BajDtist  church,  Mrs,  Gray- 
son, Agnes  and  Ruth  were  in  attendance. 

The  able  sermon,  by  Mr.  Burns,  the  pastor, 
had  been  concluded  with  a  touching  appeal  for 
aid  in  behalf  of  a  most  worthy  cause — the  Ma- 
sonic Orphan  Asylum,  at  Oxford,  and  which  ap- 
peal was  being  liberally  responded  to,  when  sud- 
denly the  large  congregation  was  startled  by  the 
sharp  ringing  of  the  fire-bells. 

The  bells  rang  faster  and  louder.  In  a  few 
moments  the  church  was  rapidly  but  quietly 
emptying.  Men,  women  and  children,  ran  breath- 
lessly past,  and  to  the  oft  repeated  queries, 
' '  Where  is  it  ?"  "  What  is  it  ?' '  no  one  seemed  to 
know  or  stopped  to  make  sure.  All  went  rush- 
ing in  the  direction  of  the  dense  cloud  of  smoke, 
rolling  up  fierce  and  lurid  in  the  western  part 
of  the  city.  Presently  a  man  cried  out  as  he  went 
running  by : 

"  Yes,  it  must  go.  Nothing  can  save  it.  It 
is  beyond  the  water-main." 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  457 

"  What  ?  What  ?  "  called  out  a  dozen  voices  at 
once. 

' '  The  Hotel  Zinzendorf  —  the  grand,  new 
hotel, ' '  was  the  almost  pathetic  reply. 

It  was,  indeed,  the  beautiful  Zinzendorf  that 
was  on  fire,  and  the  flames  had  made  such  head- 
way before  discovered  that  nothing  short  of  a 
miracle  could  possibly  save  it  from  total  destruc- 
tion. 

Mrs.  Grayson  drove  with  Ruth  and  Agnes  from 
the  church  directly  to  the  burning  building ;  and 
as  soon  as  they  caught  sight  of  it,  they  knew 
that  it  was  doomed,  and  in  a  Httle  while  all 
would  be  over. 

It  was  a  terrible,  but  grand  and  splendid  sight, 
and  thousands  of  spectators  looked  on  from  a  lit- 
tle distance,  awed  and  fascinated. 

When  at  last  the  building  was  consumed,  leav- 
ing nothing  but  the  tall  chimneys,  the  broken 
machinery  and  some  portions  of  the  walls  stand- 
ing, which  seemed  but  a  cruel  mockery,  the 
crowd  turned  away  and  began  slowly  to  dis- 
perse. The  wreck  had  been  complete,  and  now 
the  desolation  was  already  felt. 

It  was  on  the  evening  after  Euth  and  Agnes 
had  returned  home  from  their  last  drive  together, 
that  Dr.  Leslie  met  them  in  the  hall  with  an 
open  letter  in  his  hand,  and  a  peculiarly  bright 
smile  upon  his  handsome  face.  He  had  just  come 
from  Mrs.  Grayson's  room. 

"•  Now,  I  just  know  you  have  some  good  news 
for  us.  Cousin  Ralph,"  was  Agnes'  merry  greet- 
ing, and  looking  him  straight  in  the  face,  "  I 
can  always  tell.  What  is  it  ?  Do  let  us  know. 
We  are  eager  to  hear. ' ' 

Dr.  Leslie  glanced  toward  Ruth,  and  let  his 
30 


458  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

eyes  rest  full  upon  her  for  a  moment  before  he 
answered,  a  rosy  color  flushing  her  face  mean- 
while : 

' '  The  letter  is  addressed  to  me,  but  it  contains 
news — something  which  I  feel  quite  sure  will 
make  Ruth  very  happy.  Let  us  go  into  the 
library,  and  she  can  read  it  there  without  inter- 
ruption." 

"  News  for  me  '?'"  Ruth  asked  in  a  tone  of  sur- 
prise, while  Agnes  drew  back  hesitatingly,  and 
said  in  the  same  breath,  "  Oh,  some  personal 
matter,  perhaps  I  had  better  not  come  if — "" 

She  looked  from  Ruth  to  her  cousin,  holding 
her  hands  behind  her. 

' '  Oh,  yes  you  will, ' '  Dr.  Leslie  said,  coax- 
ingly,  and  he  held  out  his  hand  to  her.  "It  is 
something  you  nuist  know,  too — something  I 
beileve  will  give  you  almost  as  much  pleasure  as 
Ruth.  But.  as  I  said,  it  more  directly  concerns 
Ruth.     Come,  both  of  you." 

As  soon  as  they  entered  the  library  Dr.  Leslie 
handed  Ruth  the  open  letter,  saying,  ''  Read 
that,  if  you  please,"  and  he  and  Agnes  walked  to 
the  window  and  sat  down,  with  their  backs  to 
her,  and  Agnes  began  at  once  to  entertain  him 
with  details  of  their  drive. 

At  first  Ruth  could  hardly  hold  the  letter,  her 
hand  was  shaking  so.  The  characters  seemed  to 
swim  before  her,  and  it  was  several  moments 
before  she  could  make  out  that  the  writer  was 
"  William  H.  Dupont."  She  waited  a  moment, 
struggling  for  composure,  then  began  the  letter 
and  read  it  absorbingly  through. 

When  she  had  finished  a  low,  convulsive  sigh 
escaped  her,  and  Dr.  Leshe  and  Agnes,  turning 
quickly  round,  saw  that  she  had  bowed  her  head 


IX   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  459 

upon   the   table   before   her,  and   was   weeping 
silently. 

Dr.  Leslie  rose  at  once  and  approached  her, 
and  bending  over  her,  said  softly : 

"  Why,  Ruth,  I  thought  you  would  be  glad. 
Surely  you  cannot  be  sorry  to  knovr  that  you 
have  found  a  sister. ' ' 

But  there  was  no  need  to  soothe  her  with 
words  of  compassion. 

For  an  instant  she  was  silent — but  OQly  for  an 
instant.  In  the  next  she  raised  her  face,  radiant 
with  triumphant  joy.  her  eyes  shining  through 
teai's,  which  she  hastily  brushed  away. 

"  0.  I  am,  I  am,''  she  said.  "  Oh,  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  happy  I  am.  Indeed,  I'm  crying 
from  sheer  excess  of  joy — , "  she  could  say  no 
more. 

Agnes  had  risen  in  her  eagerness,  wondering 
what  it  all  meant;  and  came  and  knelt  beside 
her,  slipping  one  arm  around  her  waist. 

"Have  patience  with  me  a  little  while,  Agnes, ' ' 
she  said,  pushing  the  letter  toward  her;  "  I  will 
tell  you  all  about  it  as  soon  as  I  can  accustom 
myself  to  this  unexpected  happiness.  I  hardly 
know  what  I'm  doing  or  what  I'm  saying — Miss 
Dupont — Eloise  Dupont,  who  nursed  Mrs.  Gray- 
son through  her  long  illness— do  you  remember 
her?  But,  yes,  of  course  you  do;  why,  Agnes, 
she  is  my  sister. ' ' 

"Your  sister?  You  are  dreaming!  Why, 
Cousin  Ralph,  what  does  she  mean  ?  ' "  Agnes 
faltered,  looking  up  with  astonished  eyes  into 
her  cousin's  smiling  face.  ''  Is  it  true  ?  I  do  not 
understand  at  all."" 

"Yes,  it  is  even  so,''  answered  Dr.  Leslie. 
"And  if  you  will  allow  me  to  read  you  Mr.  Du- 


460  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

pont's  letter,  you  will  readily  understand  why, 
or  how  naturally  this  is  true." 

He  took  the  letter  from  her  hand,  and  while 
she  still  knelt  beside  Ruth,  Dr.  Leslie  read  the 
letter  aloud,  she,  meanwhile,  listening  to  every 
word  with  glowing  cheeks  and  kindling  eyes. 
When  he  was  done,  Agnes  caught  Ruth's  hands 
between  her  own,  and  in  her  eager,  joyous  way, 
cried : 

"Oh,  darling!  darling!  Isn't  it  delightful? 
Let  me  congratulate  you.  To  think  that  Miss 
Dupont  should  turn  out  to  be  your  half-sister — 
and — and  so  rich  and  beautiful  and  accomplished, 
and  now  going  to  be  man  ied,  after  such  a  charm- 
ing romance  in  her  own  life.  Indeed,  it  seems 
like  some  pretty  fairy  tale,  and  I'm  not  quite 
sure  that  I  believe  it  yet. ' ' 

' '  I  can  scarcely  believe  it  myself, " '  said  Dr. 
Leslie,  "  but  there's  no  mistaking  the  plain  facts 
in  Mr.  Dupont  s  letter." 

' '  Please  give  me  the  letter,  Cousin  Ralph,  and 
let  me  run  over  some  j^arts  of  it  myself.  Oh,  I 
do  wonder  what  mamma  will  say  when  I  tell 
her,"  she  added,  as  Dr.  Leslie  handed  her  the 
letter. 

"  Now,  just  listen  to  this,"  reading  from  the 
second  page,  after  skipping  the  introductory  part 
of  the  document,  as  though  they  had  not  read  it 
themselves :  ' '  When  we  agreed  to  adopt  the 
child,  for  reasons  not  necessary  to  state  here,  we 
exacted  from  Mr.  Arnold  a  promise  that  he  would 
renounce  all  claims  to  her,  we,  on  the  other 
hand,  agreeing  to  give  her  our  name  and  part  of 
our  fortune,  and  do  by  her  just  as  though  she 
were  our  own  daughter.  Eloise  was  quite  sixteen 
years  of  age  before  she  knew  that  we  were  not 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  461 

her  parents;  but  more  than  this,  Mrs.  Dupont 
dedined  to  divulge.  And  not  even  Howard,  our 
only  son,  three  years  Eloise's  senior,  w^as  aware 
of  the  true  relationship  between  her  and  himself 
until  he  had  been  one  year  at  Harvard." 

Agnes  stopped  reading  and  looked  up,  laugh- 
ing. 

''  Now,  that  is  what  I  call  a  first-class  ro- 
mance. Was  there  ever  anything  in  fiction  half 
so  fascinating  ?  Why,  I  almost  wish  it  w^ere  my- 
self. I  tell  you  I'd  give  a  good  deal  to  be  the 
heroine  of  such  a  pretty  story." 

She  read  on  silently  a  moment,  then  said,  im- 
pulsively, as  though  this  was  the  first  time  Dr. 
Leslie  and  Ruth  had  heard  the  contents  of  the 
letter.  "  Now  listen  again — isn't  this  too  good 
to  be  true  ?  ' ' 

"  Eloise  will  write  her  sister.  Miss  Arnold,  to- 
day ;  and  by  the  same  post  you  will  receive  in- 
vitations to  attend  her  and  Howard's  marriage, 
which  will  take  place  on  the  12  th  of  December 
at  Grace  church,  and  the  reception  at  my  resi- 
dence on  Fifth  Avenue,  the  same  evening. 

''  Mrs.  Dupont  joins  me  in  a  cordial  invitation 
that  your  entire  family — that  is,  your  sister's,  or 
any  friend  or  relative  that  may  be  visiting  you, 
be  with  us  on  this  happy  occasion.' ' 

Agnes  could  read  no  more,  she  dropped  the 
letter  in  Ruth's  lap,  and  looked  up,  her  face 
beaming. 

"  So  you  see  that  includes  your  cousin.  Miss 
Agnes  Grlenwood.  Of  course  we'll  go;  and  I'll 
tell  you  what  else  we'll  do.  You  know  papa  has 
written  for  us  to  meet  him  in  New  York  on  the 
6th  of  December.  Well,  we  can  leave  here  on 
the   5th.  Cousin  Helen,    Ruth  and  you.  Cousin 


462  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

Ealph — remain  in  New  York  until  after  the  wed- 
ding, and  then  Ruth  will  go  home  with  me  and 
stay  until  you  come  tor  her.  Now.  isn't  that  a 
perfectly  lovely  program  ?  ''  she  asked,  brightly, 
looking  from  one  to  the  other.  "  Indeed,  it  is 
the  only  thing  that  can  reconcile  rae  to  leaving 
North  Carolina  just  now." 

Dr.  Leslie  became  grave  at  once,  and  with  a 
quiet,  gentle  manner  looked  down  at  Ruth  and 
asked : 

"Do  you  approve  Agnes'  plan,  Ruth?  Do 
you — would  you  like  to  go  with  her  home  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  should  like  to  go  very  much." 

"You  sweet  darling  I  "  cried  Agnes,  turning 
and  kissing  her  again  and  again.  ' '  I  knew  you 
would.  Well,  I  shall  consider  that  point  settled; 
and  now  I'm  going  to  write  mamma  and  tell  her 
you  are  coming.     I  know  she'll  be  delighted." 

When  she  reached  the  door,  she  stopped,  looked 
back,  and  asked  in  a  faltering  tone: 

"  Oh,  Carl — Cousin  Ralph — did  you  write  him 
this  morning,  as  you  said  you  would  ?" 

' '  Yes,  and  I  suppose  he  will  get  my  letter  to- 
morrow. By-the-way,  that  reminds  me,  I  had 
a  letter  from  him  to-day.  He  is  going  to  New 
York  with  us  to  tell  you  good-bye,  he  says." 
He  took  a  letter  from  his  pocket,  meanwhile 
looking  at  Agnes  with  twinkling  eyes.  ' '  Here 
is  his  letter,"  he  added.  "  You  may  read  it  if 
you  like. ' ' 

' '  Very  well, ' '  she  returned,  with  a  little  friendly 
nod,  and  she  tried  to  look  him  straight  in  the 
eyes;  but  with  a  low  "  thank  you,"  she  blushed, 
laughed,  and  then  hurriedly  left  the  room. 

In  the  next  two  hours  interview  together,  Dr. 
Leslie  and  Ruth  arranged  their  future  plans,  and 


TN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  4H3 

when  she  rose  to  go,  it  was  with  a  serenely  happy 
face  she  held  out  her  hands  to  him  to  say  good- 
night. Not  less  than  ten  mimites  he  kept  the 
soft  palms  in  his  light  clasp,  while  he  was  speak- 
ing; and  when  she  at  last  withdrew  her  hands, 
upon  the  third  finger  of  the  left  hand  the  glitter 
and  sparkle  of  a  magnificent  diamond  ring  had 
replaced  the  brilliant  gleam  of  the  emerald  and 
pearls. 

Agnes  was  still  sitting  up  writing  when  Ruth 
went  to  her  room,  but  she  glaaced  up  archly 
from  her  desk  and  gave  a  httle  yawn,  and,  the 
next  moment  catching  sight  of  the  splendid  jewel 
flashing  upon  Ruth's  hand,  with  a  low,  soft 
laugh,  she  said : 

"  Ah,  you  cunning  rogue,"  then  bent  her  head 
and  resumed  her  letter- writing  to — Carl — smil- 
ing softly. 

A  few  days  later  Dr.  Leslie,  Mrs.  Grayson  and 
Nellie  accompanied  Agnes  and  Ruth  to  New 
York,  where  Mr.  Glen  wood  met  them.  Carl 
had  joined  them  at  Baltimore,  and,  though  look- 
ing a  trifle  thinner  than  when  he  left  home  in  the 
fall,  otherwise  he  was  the  same  bright,  hopeful 
spirit — the  same  handsome  Carl. 

To  Mrs.  Grayson's  anxious  inquiries  about  his 
health,  Carl  laughingly  replied  that  it  was  hard 
work  that  was  reducing  his  avoirdupois,  when 
Nellie  burst  in  with — 

''Why,  Carl;  you  know  you  haven't  done  a 
thing  but  write  long  letters  to  Cousin  Agnes  ever 
since  you  left  home.  She  gets  letters  from  you 
this  long  "' — holding  out  both  arms  full  length — 
"  every  day." 

Carl  playfully  laid  his  hand  over  her  mouth, 
and  drew  her  down  beside  him. 


464  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  Hush,  Nell;  you  don't  know  what  you  are 
talking  about;  and,  besides,  little  folks  shouldn't 
tell  tales  out  of  school/' 

"  Nor  big  ones  either, "  was  the  pert  rejoinder. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dupont  and  Eloise  called  the 
next  day  at  the  hotel  where  the  Graysons  were 
staying,  to  invite  them  to  their  home  as  their 
guests;  but  the  Graysons  were  out  when  they 
called,  so  the  Duponts  left  their  cards,  and  a  note 
of  friendly  respects,  asking  them  to  waive  all 
ceremony  and  dine  with  them  that  evening  at 
7  o'clock,  extending  their  hospitality  to  Mr. 
Glenwood  and  Agnes. 

Punctually  at  the  hour  appointed,  they  drove 
to  the  palatial  Dupont  residence  oq  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, not  far  from  Central  Park,  where  they 
were  received  by  the  host  and  hostess — both 
handsome  and  distinguished-looking  people — 
with  marked  courtesy,  and  even  cordiality,  and 
shown  every  attention. 

The  meeting  between  Ruth  and  Eloise  was 
tenderly  affectionate  and  touching;  and  Eloise'g 
beautiful  face  lighted  with  pleasure  when  she  has- 
tened to  Mrs.  Grayson,  Dr.  Leslie  and  Agnes, 
took  them  by  the  hands,  and  expressed  the  most 
heart-felt  delight  at  seeiag  them  again. 

Soon  after  their  arrival,  dinner  was  announced. 
Mrs.  Dupont  gave  the  signal,  and  in  due  order 
the  little  party  entered  the  spacious  and  loftj 
dining-room,  where  superb  plate  glittered  on  the 
board,  and  beautiful  flowers  seemed  to  bloom 
everywhere.  The  elegant  repast,  so  faultlessly 
served,  passed  off  delightfully. 

When  they  had  adjourned  to  the  drawing- 
room,  Eloise,  unobserved,  managed  to  draw  Ruth 
and  Agnes  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  company 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  465 

and  took  them  away  to  her  own  luxurious  apart- 
ments, where  for  an  hour  or  more  they  were 
busied  in  the  sweet  mysteries  which  exercise  so 
pervading  a  power  over  the  mind  and  heart  of 
the  bride-elect,  generally. 

As  the  Grayson's  were  leaving,  Mrs.  Dupont 
held  Mrs.  Grayson's  hand  in  a  warm  pressure 
for  a  few  moments,  while  she  said  with  her  most 
gracious  smile : 

"  I  regret  that  you  have  denied  us  both  the 
privilege  and  happiness  of  having  you  as  our 
guest  during  your  stay  in  the  city,  but  if  you 
are  here  any  length  of  time,  I  hope  we  shall  see 
a  good  deal  of  you,"  glancing  around  the  circle. 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  Ruth 
drew  aside  Eloise,  and  said,  caressingly,  "  When 
shall  we  be  again  so  happy  ?  It  seems  hard  to 
give  you  up  so  soon  after  I  have  found  you ;  but 
out  in  the  crowded  world  where  your  destiny 
must  call  you,  let  me  beg  that  you'll  not  cease 
to  love  and  think  of  me,  my  beautiful — my 
peerless  sister." 

Eloise  slipped  her  arms  gently  around  her 
and  whispered,  "  Fear  not,  my  sweet  sister, 
nothing  can  ever  lessen  my  love  for  you,  and  in 
my  heart,  side  by  side  with  another  image, 
yours  shall  ever  live,  then  how  can  I  forget  you, 
little  one  ?  ' '  she  added  in  a  playful  tone,  kissing 
her  good-bye. 

Eloise  and  Howard  Dupont 's  wedding  day 
dawned  without  a  cloud. 

Never  did  bride  look  more  radiant  and  beau- 
tiful, never  groom  hadsomer  and  happier,  than 
did  the  distinguished  couple  who,  in  the  full  tide 
of  their  youth  and  hope,  stood  before  the  white 
flower-docked  altar  in  Grace  church  on  a  Tues- 


4:6f)  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

day  evening,  and  then  and  there,  in  the  presence 
of  a  brilliant  throng,  and  under  the  flashing  ra- 
diance of  electric  lights  and  the  thrilling  strains 
of  sweet  music,  mingled  with  the  grave,  low 
tones  of  the  minister's  voice,  solemnly  joined 
their  destinies  for  better  or  for  worse. 

Immediately  following  the  beautiful  and  im- 
pressive marriage  service,  the  reception  held  at 
the  magnificent  mansion  of  the  Duponts  was  an 
event  so  sumptuous  and  brilliant  that  it  was 
unusually  notable,  even  among  the  elite  of  the 
fashionable  world  who  were  present. 

Two  days  later  the  sad  partings — too  sad  to 
dwell  upon,  were  over.  Mr.  Glenwood,  Agnes 
and  Euth  had  departed  for  California,  and  Dr. 
Leslie,  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Nellie  had  gone  to  their 
home  in  the  South,  while  Carl  returned  to  Balti- 
more to  resume  the  medical  course  he  was  pur- 
suing. 

Howard  Dupont  took  his  bride  abroad  for  a 
year's  travel,  and  w^ould  spend  the  winter  in 
Egypt. 

The  months  which  followed  sped  swiftly  by, 
and  very  active,  busy  months  they  were,  too, 
for  Dr.  Leslie. 

The  winter  snows  fell  and  melted,  and  the 
winter  winds  changed  so  swiftly,  yet  naturally, 
into  mild  spring  breezes,  and  these  as  rapidly 
softened  into  fragrant  summer  zephyrs,  that  ere 
one  fully  realized  the  charm  of  the  fading  season, 
suggestions  of  autumn  tints  were  beginning  to 
show^  themselves  amongst  the  foliage  of  the  trees. 

One  evening,  toward  the  close  of  September, 
when  the  local  evening  paper  announced,  as  it 
generally  did  from  time  to  time,  the  names  of 
its  citizens   coming   and    going   to  the  World's 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  467 

Great  Exposition  at  Chicago,  it  was  without  sur- 
prise or  comment  that  one  read  among  the  hst, 
the  names  of  Dr.  Leshe  and  the  Graysons.  To 
be  sure  they  would  go.  It  would  have  seemed 
a  little  singular  for  them  not — people  with  am- 
ple means,  cultivated  tastes,  and  who  went  almost 
everywhere. 

But,  three  weeks  later,  when  the  same  local 
paper  contained  an  extracted  communication 
from  a  San  Francisco  paper  of  an  event  which 
had  recently  occurred  in  that  city,  an  event  in 
which  Dr.  Leslie  and  the  Graysons  figured  prom- 
inently, it  caused  a  ripple  of  excitement  which 
rose  ^vave  high,  and  so  improbable  did  it  seem 
to  the  majority,  that  some  even  smiled  with  a 
self-complacent  sneer,  to  think  that  a  ay  one 
should  be  found  credulous  enough  to  take  the 
matter  seriously. 

'*  Nothing  but  a  fake — a  newspaper  sensation. 
Bah!  don't  believe  a  word  of  it,"  sneered  these 
wise  skeptics.  The  communication  alluded  to 
and  which  had  set  the  town  agog,  read  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  Leslie- Arnold.  A  pretty  wedding  occurred 
this  morning  about  8  o'clock  at  the  magnificent 

home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Glenwood,  on 

Street,  the  lovely  bride  being  Miss  Ruth  Arnold, 
formerly  of  this  city,  now  of  North  Carolina; 
and  the  groom.  Dr.  Ralph  Leslie,  an  eminent 
physician  from  the  same  State. 

"  Amongst  the  immediate  friends  and  rela- 
tives of  the  bride  and  groom  who  witnessed  the 
ceremony,  and  afterwards  attended  the  elegant 
reception,  were  the  groom's  sister,  Mrs.  Helen 
Grayson  and  her  daughter,  Miss  Nellie,  who  ac- 
companied him  from  North  Carolina. 


468  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES:    OR, 

"  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Leslie  will  leave  at  noon  to-day 
for  New  York,  and  from  thence  sail  for  an  ex- 
tended tour  abroad. '  ■ 

Previous  to  this  event,  the  Glenwoods  and 
Ruth  had  spent  a  month  at  the  World's  Exposi- 
tion, and  here  Carl  had  joined  them,  but  he  did 
not  attend  his  uncle's  marriage. 

There  had  been  some  talk  of  a  double  wedding, 
but  Carl  and  Agnes  had  made  other  arrange- 
ments, and  he  had  to  serve  another  year. 


IN   THE   NEW   ELDORADO.  469 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

It  was  a  lovely  Judg  afternoon,  golden  with 
sunshine  and  redolent  with  the  perfume  of  roses. 
It  was  the  day  after  Dr.  Leslie  and  Ruth  had  re- 
turned from  their  bridal  journey. 

A  carriage  with  visitors,  who  had  come  to  call 
and  to  offer  their  congratulations  and  friendly 
respects,  had  just  departed  when  Dr.  Leslie's 
own  handsome  pha:^ton  drove  up  to  the  side  en- 
trance a  ad  stopped,  the  driver  stepped  quickly 
down,  and  then  stood  waiting. 

Only  a  few  minutes,  however,  he  had  to  wait, 
for  presently  Dr.  Leslie  and  Ruth  appeared  in 
the  doorway.  She  was  dressed  in  the  daintiest 
of  white  mull,  exquisitely  trimmed  in  lace,  and 
wore  a  richly  plumed  white  hat. 

As  she  paused  to  fasten  her  gloves,  she  did  not 
see  that  her  husband,  who  was  looking  at  least 
ten  years  younger,  was  watching  her  with  ad- 
miring eyes  and  a  smile  of  perfect  content,  while 
he  was  thinking  that  in  all  her  life,  with  all  her 
grace  and  puiity  and  sweetness,  she  had  never 
looked  so  beautiful  as  she  did  now. 

Just  then  a  little  figure,  clad  in  airy  robes  of 
white,  with  bright  eyes  and  shining  hair,  glided 
softly  up  behind  her,  and  suddenly  a  pair  of  tiny 
arms  clasped  her  tightly  around  the  waist. 

''  Oh,  Cousin  Ruth,  do  let  me  kiss  you  good- 
bye before  you  go.  Pshaw !  There  it  is  again, 
I  will  call  you  Cousin  Ruth,  and  Carl  said  I 
musn't — but  you  know  that  you  are  not  my  aunt 
at  all.  Let  me  put  my  arms  around  your  neck 
just  once,  and  give  you  one  little  squeeze.  I 
shan't  crumple  your  laces  one  bit.     You  know  I 


470  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

love  you  so  much,  Cousin  Ruth,  and  I'm  so 
sorry — " 

NelHe  checked  herself  suddenly,  and  looked 
confused,  then  added: 

"  Yes,  I  love  you  next  to  Carl,  Uncle  Ralph 
and  mamma,'' 

At  the  mention  of  her  mother's  name,  Mrs. 
Grayson  came  out  on  the  veranda,  and  going 
quickly  up  to  Ruth,  laid  her  hand  caressingly 
upon  her  shoulder,  and  kissed  her  two  or  three 
times,  saying,  "  I  hope  you  will  have  a  pleasant 
drive,  my  dear.  The  weather  is  fine  for  such 
recreation  this  afternoon.  Grod  bless  you,  dar- 
ling, ' '  she  could  not  help  adding,  fervently,  when 
Rnth  had  responded  to  her  remark,  and  then 
turned  and  preceded  Dr.  Leslie  down  the  steps, 
at  the  same  moment,  overhearing  Nellie  say  to 
her  mother : 

"  Oh,  Mamma;  I  did  so  want  to  tell  her." 

"  What  did  she  mean  ?  "  Ruth  asked  herself. 
"  Tell  me  what '?  "  But  the  next  instant  she  put 
the  wondering  thought  away.  She  would  not 
suffer  any  cloud  of  conjecture  to  shadow  the  gol- 
den sunshine  of  the  happy  present. 

Before  taking  her  seat  in  the  phaeton  she  went 
up  to  Nabob  and  Prince  and  patted  each  on  his 
glossy  neck  by  way  of  a  friendly  greeting. 

"They  are  just  as  beautiful  as  ever,"  she 
said,  with  almost  childish  delight;  "and  I  do 
believe  they  know  me.  See  how  they  toss  their 
pretty  heads.  If  possible  they  are  handsomer 
than  they  were  when  I  saw  them  last." 

' '  Yes,  I  think  they  are  myself, ' '  said  Dr.  Les- 
lie, and  with  an  indulgent  smile  he  went  up  to 
her,  and  in  the  most  delicately  considerate  way 
took  out  his  pocket  handkerchief  and  wiped  her 
daintily  gloved  hands. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  471 

The  caress — 'for  it  seemed  nothing  more  than 
a  gentle  caress,  was  so  eloquent  with  self -deny- 
ing fondness,  that  she  looked  up  at  him  with  a 
radiant  smile — a  smile  so  radiant  that  it  made 
him  feel  how  pleasant  a  thing  it  was  to  have  the 
constant  care  of  this  lovely  girl  committed  to  his 
charge  as  his  precious  wife.  It  seemed  to  him 
as  though  his  eyes  had  been  suddenly  opened, 
for  he  looked  upon  her  now  with  such  a  new 
and  tender  interest,  such  a  sweet  and  protecting 
devotion.  Yes,  all  these  emotions  though  familiar, 
had  a  new  significance  to  him  now,  while  blend- 
ing and  absorbing  another's  life  history  with  his 
own. 

"  To  the  boulevard,  John,"  said  Dr.  Leslie  to 
the  driver,  when  he  had  mounted  to  his  seat,  and 
Dr.  Leslie  turned  smilingly,  waved  his  hand  to 
Mrs.  Grayson  and  Nellie,  who  stood  watching 
them  from  the  veranda,  and  soon  the  vehicle 
whirled  rapidly  out  of  sight. 

That  was  a  wonderfully  delightful  drive  to 
Ruth,  aod  the  delicious  memories  which  clung 
about  that  afternoon  she  never  foi-got  through 
all  the  changing  scenes  of  her  life.  She  was  so 
supremely  happy  and  content,  and  even  Nabob 
and  Prince  seemed  to  know  that  this  was  a  spe- 
cial occasion,  for  they  flew  along  the  hard,  level 
roads  as  if  girded  with  new  life  and  energy, 
proudly  arching  and  tossing  their  heads,  their 
silver-tipped  harness  flashing  in  the  sunlight, 
and  soon  they  were  far  beyond  the  environments 
of  the  city. 

Overhead  the  sky  was  one  glorious  vault  of 
blue,  while  the  air  was  harmonious  with  the  song 
of  birds  and  permeated  with  the  sweet  scent  of 
wild  flowers. 


472  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

When  the  driver  at  last  turned  the  horses' 
heads  homeward,  there  was  a  luminous  fading 
sun-glow  over  the  quiet  landscape,  and  the  shad- 
ows vv^ere  slowly  lengthening  toward  the  west. 

As  they  passed  the  Military  School,  perched 
high  upon  the  crest  of  a  beautiful  wooded  hill- 
side with  its  terraced  lawn  and  barrack  square 
spreading  away  in  front,  a  squad  of  cadets  in 
blue-gray  uniforms,  drawn  up  in  line,  were  pre- 
paring to  go  through  with  some  military  ma- 
noeuver,  while  their  bright  bayonets  gUnted  and 
flashed  as  they  caught  the  rays  of  the  departing 
sun. 

Instead  of  returning  by  the  way  they  had  come, 
they  turned  to  the  right,  and  the  driver  gradu- 
ally slackened  the  pace  of  the  well-trained  horses 
to  a  leisurely  gait ;  and,  as  Ruth  leant  back  in 
her  seat,  watching  the  rhythmical  roll  of  the  glint- 
ing wheels  and  listening  to  the  low,  pleasant 
tones  of  her  husband's  voice,  some  of  the  joy 
which  filled  her  heart  was  reflected  in  the  sweet 
smile  on  her  lovely  face. 

Now  they  were  driving  slowly  past  a  spot, 
where  not  many  months  ago  no  sign  of  a  habi- 
tation stood — simply  a  vacant  lot,  smooth  and 
green,  with  picturesque  stretches  all  about  it. 

Ruth,  looking  in  the  direction,  gave  a  sudden 
start,  and  under  the  shock  of  a  great  surprise, 
turned  and  stared  at  Dr.  Leslie  with  a  perfectly 
amazed  countenance. 

"  Arcadia  Villa,"  he  said,  with  an  enigmatical 
smile,  answering  her  astouished  look.  ' '  The  place, 
since  you  saw  it  last,  has  been  converted  into  a 
private  home — one  of  beauty  and  loveliness.  The 
magical  transformation  took  place  during  your 
absence  from  the  city. ' ' 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  473 

' '  It  is  indeed  very  lovely, ' '  she  said,  earnestly, 
then  sat  silent  and  thoughtful,  while  her  eyes 
roved  admiringly  from  object  to  object  on  the 
beautiful  place. 

In  the  midst  of  the  exquisite  park-like  lawn, 
which  was  adorned  with  statuary,  fountains, 
and  grass  plats  with  evergreen  shrubs,  stood  an 
imposing  mansion,  surmounted  by  a  red-tile 
roof.  The  walls  were  built  o:  pressed  brick,  with 
trimmings  of  light  stone  highly  carved,  and  from 
base  to  finale,  its  proportions  were  symmetrical 
and  its  ornamentation  artistic. 

Sloping  away  to  the  right  of  the  lawn,  a  flight 
of  stone  steps,  son]e  two  hundred  feet  or  more 
in  length,  led  gradually  down  to  an  artificial  lake, 
whose  pebbly  margin  was  fringed  with  ferns, 
grasses  and  lilies. 

On  either  end  of  the  steps  were  tall,  white 
marble  vases  filled  with  gorgeous  foliage  and 
tropical  plants. 

To  the  left  of  the  lake,  a  pretty  gondola,  gayly 
painted,  lay  motionless  at  its  anchorage,  while 
two  snow-white  swans  gracefully  breasted  the 
sunht  ripples  of  the  crystal  waters. 

Directly  in  front  of  the  splendid  portico  of  the 
residence,  which  stood  out  from  the  facade  in 
perfect  symmetry,  was  a  fountain  of  exquisite 
design,  and  beneath,  sparkling  water  played 
amid  gold  a,nd  silver  fish  and  rare  water  plants. 

The  winding  walks  were  paved  in  imitation  of 
Roman  Mosaic,  and  a  circular  carriage-way  led 
up  through  the  porte-cochere  to  the  left  of  the 
mansion. 

The  beautiful  and  luxuriant  woodland  in  the 
rear,  which  was  artificially  embellished,  made  an 
appropriate  background  to  this  sumptuous  home, 
31 


474  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

fit  for  the  habitation  of  a  fairy  queen  or  an  im- 
perial princess. 

An  ornamental  iron  fence  seven  feet  high  and 
painted  black  surrounded  the  handsome  grounds, 
and  protected  them  from  curious  intruders. 

When  the  carriage  had  reached  the  upper  part 
of  the  grounds,  along  the  public  driveway.  Ruth 
turned  to  Dr.  Leslie  and  said,  "  I  recall  when 
Agnes  and  I  drove  past  here  the  last  time  to- 
gether, we  spoke  of  this  situation  as  being  a  most 
charming  site  for  a  private  residence.  I'ni  so 
glad  that  some  one  with  cultivated  and  artistic 
tastes  has  converted  it  into  this  ideal  home — a 
home  that  excels  outwardly  at  least,  anything 
that  my  most  vivid  fancy  had  ever  pictured. 

"Would  you  cctve  to  go  in  and  see  the  grounds?"" 
Dr.  Leslie  asked,  taking  out  his  watch  and  glanc- 
ing at  it.  "  There  is  a  large  conservatory  on  the 
other  side  which  cannot  be  seen  from  here, " '  he 
resumed,  "  and  which  leads  out  from  the  dining- 
room,  and  this,  in  turn,  leads  into  an  admirably 
arranged  winter  garden,  vv^hich  I  think  is  one  of 
the  most  attractive  features  of  the  grounds 

"  This  winter  garden  is  entirely  covered  with 
glass,  and  contains  running  fountains,  graveled 
walks,  palms  and  rustic  seats.  Then  adjoining 
this  are  the  hothouses,  where  flowers,  grapes 
and  other  small  fruits,  also  vegetables,  are  culti- 
vated."" 

Ruth  turned  quickly,  with  a  surprised  look, 
and  for  a  second  or  two  regarded  him  intently. 

"  Are  you  in  earnest  about  going  in  ?  Do  you 
know  these  people  ?  Are  they  friends  of  yours  ?'" 

With  that  soft  pleasant  laugh,  which  she  loved 
so  dearly  to  hear,  he  took  the  ]iains  to  answer 
each  one  of  her  questions. 


IN   THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  475 

"  Yes,  Fm  in  earnest  about  seeing  the  grounds. 
I  know  '  these  people, '  and  they  are  friends  of 
mine,  and  yours,  too,  my  dear,  as  for  that 
matter. 

Meanwhile  John  had  pulled  up  the  horses,  and 
sat  patiently  waiting  for  orders. 

"  Well,  shall  we  go  '?  "  Dr.  Leslie  asked,  with 
an  amused  twinkle  in  his  eyes. 

"  Oh,  certainly,  I  shall  be  glad  to  do  so;  and 
anywhere  else  you  go,  I'll  cheerfully  follow," 
lowering  her  voice  at  the  last  sentence,  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  driver. 

Dr.  Leslie  gave  the  order,  and  when  the  car- 
riage drew  up  beside  the  porch,  and  he  had  helped 
her  out,  he  suggested  that  they  would  better  go 
into  the  house  first  before  making  a  tour  of  the 
grounds,  playfully  remarking  that  it  was  not 
always  wisest  to  take  too  many  liberties  even 
with  one's  friends. 

"  But  our  cards,""  said  Ruth,  with  all  a  wo- 
man's punctiliousness  about  such  formalities. 
"  You  know  I  haven't  any  with  me;  fori  didn't 
expect  to  go  calling." 

"  Oh.  never  mind  about  the  (;ards.  I'll  un- 
dertake to  make  it  all  right  with  our  friends  if 
need  be."  he  said,  good-humoredly. 

In  response  to  their  ring,  it  was  i>romptly  an- 
swered— not  by  a  footman  dressed  in  livery,  as 
Ruth  had  expected  to  see — but  a  good-looking, 
neatly  dressed  maid,  in  the  whitest  of  lace- 
trimmed  cap  and  apron,  whom  Dr.  Leslie  ad- 
dressed as  Corinne.  and  who  conducted  them 
through  the  grand  hall,  with  its  tunneled-shaped 
ceiling  and  mosaic  marble  floor,  in  the  centre  of 
whicli  a  small  fountain  tossed  a  high  jet  of 
sparkling,  perfumed  spray,  and  then  fell  with  a 


47(i  UNDER   GOLDEN    SKIES;    OR, 

melodious  bubble  upon  a  bed  of  rare  ferns  and 
exotics  growing  around  its  base — a  hall,  where 
here  and  there  beautiful  palms  and  flowers  were 
arranged  in  exquisite  taste — then  on  to  the  splen- 
did drawing-room  which  was  unrivalled  in 
beauty  and  elegance,  and  held  objects  of  great 
rarity  and  value. 

Without  waiting  for  them  to  explain  the  ab- 
sence of  cards,  or  even  asking  whom  they  wished 
to  see,  with  a  significant  smile  the  maid  quietly 
turned  and  left  the  room. 

Ruth  glanced  inquisitively  around,  and  then 
with  a  puzzled  look  turned  to  Dr.  Leslie  for  an 
explanation  of  what  to  her  was  beginning  to  as- 
sume an  air  of  mystery. 

Keenly  enjoying  her  perplexity,  and  with  a 
bright  smile  beaming  on  his  handsome  face,  he 
rose  at  once  and  approached  her,  and  taking  her 
hand  in  his,  said : 

"  I  have  not  had  much  experience,  darling,  in 
playing  the  part  I've  just  been  enacting,  but  you 
will,  I  know,  forgive  me  for  not  sharing  with  you 
this  once  my  little  secret,  and  allow  me  now  to 
cordially  welcome  you  to  your  home — our  home. 

With  a  mingled  joy  and  surprise  unspeakable 
of  happy  wifehood  gleaming  from  her  lovely, 
wistful  eyes — eyes  still  wistful,  but  with  such  a 
happy  wistfulness,  she  repeated: 

"  My  home  '?  Our  home  ?  "  raising  her  brov.s. 

"Yes,  darling,  our  home,"  he  said  gently, 
drawing  her  to  him. 

"  It  was  a  pet  whim  of  mine  to  plan  and  ex- 
ecute this  surprise  for  you  while  you  were  absent 
from  the  city.  I  employed  skilled  architects  and 
artisans  to  faithfully  carry  out  my  designs, 
binding  them  to  secrecy  until  such  a  time  as  I 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  477 

should  give  them  permission  to  speak,  in  order 
that  my  surprise  might  be  complete. 

"  Mrs.  Grayson,  Carl  and  Nellie  also  cooper- 
ated with  me  in  my  scheme,  but  more  than  once, 
Nellie  came  very  near  betraying  me,  and  no 
longer  than  tliis  afternoon,  when  we  were  leav- 
ing, I  heard  her  say  to  her  mother:  '  Oh, 
mamma.  I  did  so  want  to  tell  her.'  Though 
you  gave  no  sign  of  having  heard,  I  felt  quite 
sure  that  you  did,  and,  perhaps,  wondered 
what  she  meant;  and  I  suspect,  had  you  asked 
me  then  and  there  for  an  explanation,  I  would 
have  told  you  the  v/hole  truth,  rather  than  the 
least  suspicion  of  something  unpleasant,  and 
which  you  did  not  understand,  should  have  given 
you  a  moment's  pain.  I  knew  you  would  sus- 
pect nothing  by  Mrs.  Grayson  and  Nellie  bidding 
you  good-bye,  since  this  was  not  an  ususual 
thing  for  them  to  do  whenever  you  went  out ; 
and  then  Mrs.  Grayson  did  it  in  such  a  natural 
matter-of-course  way  this  afternoon,  that  no  one 
not  in  the  secret  would  have  thought  that  she 
was  carrying  out  her  part  of  a  carefully  arranged 
program. 

"  But  come,"  he  went  on,  "  don't  you  want  to 
see  something  of  the  home  that  I've  prepared  for 
you  ?  Let  us  go  over  the  house  now,  or  some  parts 
of  it,  and  to-morrow  you  can  inspect  the  grounds, 
conservatory  and  winter  garden  at  your  leisure. 
I  cannot  tell  you  what  a  labor  of  love  all  this  has 
been  to  me,  and  the  sequel  proves — " 

"  That  it  has  not  been  in  vain,"  Ruth  said 
quickly,  finishing  the  sentence  for  him.  Then 
she  looked  up  in  his  face  and  asked  in  a  tremb- 
hng,  pleading  voice  and  through  a  mist  of  tears : 

"  Oh.  how  shall  I  ever  repay  you;  how  shall 
I  ever  thank  you  ?  ' ' 


47 S  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

"  By  always  loving  and  trusting  me  as  you  do 
now,"  he  answ^ered  fervently. 

Ruth's  implicit  faith  and  confidence  in  him 
had  always  touched  him  deeply,  and  he  had  often 
told  her  it  had  heen  a  strong  stimulus,  which 
helped  to  uplift  and  inspire  him  to  become  more 
and  more  worthy  of  her  confidence  and  love. 

As  they  went  out  into  the  grand  hall,  whose 
splendid  uplook  could  not  be  surpassed  in  deli- 
cacy, beauty  and  magnificence,  and  passed  from 
room  to  room,  Dr.  Leslie  gave  her  a  succinct  ac- 
count of  everything  pertaining  thereto,  and  of 
other  things  which  he  thought  would  interest 
her. 

The  picture  gallery,  which  opened  on  the  main 
hall,  Ruth  decided  to  inspect  another  time,  wiien 
she  should  have  ample  leisure  to  enjoy  and  ad- 
mire its  rare  treasures ;  so,  after  a  hurried  sur- 
vey of  one  or  two  paintings,  they  crossed  the 
main  hall  and  entered  the  music  rooai,  which 
was  presided  over  by  the  Muses. 

Ruth  must  have  been  talking  of  Agnes'  and 
Carl's  approaching  marriage  elsewhere,  for  she 
now  said: 

' '  It  seems  I  can  scarcely  wait  until  December, 
w^hen  Agnes  is  to  come,"  then  she  paused  and 
added  quickly,  '•  Not  that  I  need  or  want  another 
thing  "to  add  to  my  happiness.  Oh,  no;  for 
there's  nothing  lacking — not  one  thing—  but  it 
will  be  so  hard  to  keep  all  this  from  her,  just  to 
enjoy  her  surprise  as  you  did  uiine — and  yet,  I 
so  long  that  she  should  know." 

Dr.  Leslie  smiled  indulgently,  walked  to  the 
piano  and  opened  it,  then  turning  to  her.  asked : 

"  Won't  you  play  something,  dear  ?  Anything, 
so  it  be  a  song. ' ' 


IN   THE   NEAV    ELDORADO.  47 !i 

"  With  pleasure."  she  said,  seating  herself  at 
the  splendid  instrument,  and  taking  off  her 
gloves,  began  to  glide  her  lingers  over  the  keys 
like  a  professional,  to  test  its  melody  and  sweet- 
ness. 

' '  Home,  Sweet  Home, ' "  was  the  song  she 
sang,  and  as  the  delicious  harmony  filled  the 
room  her  entrancing  voice  gained  in  enchanting, 
seductive  sweetness,  which  beguiled  the  very 
soul  of  her  listener,  as  though  he  were  listening 
to  some  holy  chime  from  the  spirit  world,  and 
gradually  he  seemed  lifted  up  into  a  purer  and 
liolier  atmosphere,  far  above  the  bitter  tears,  the 
cruel  sorrows,  and  the  restless  passions  of  a  sin- 
sick  world.  Ruth's  singing  always  moved  him 
thus;  and  when  she  rose  from  the  seat,  she 
looked  gratefully  up  into  his  face  with  the  sweet- 
est smile,  in  answer  to  his  words  of  honest  praise. 

All  of  the  rooms  opening  on  the  main  hall  had 
sliding  doors,  hung  on  noiseless  tracks,  and  so 
arranged  that  on  any  special  occasion  or  fete 
night,  the  beautiful  rooms  could  be  thrown  into 
one  grand  salon,  which,  when  lighted  by  two 
large  crystal  chandeliers,  made  a  spectacle  so 
brilliant  and  beautiful,  that  nothing  short  of 
fairy-land  could  equal  it. 

From  the  pretty  breakfast  room,  with  its 
graceful  and  artistic  ornamentation,  they  went 
into  the  spacious  and  lofty  dining-room,  with  its 
splendid  carvings,  symbolic  emblems  and  music 
gallery,  and  Ruth  laughingly  said  that  they 
should  never  have  any  use  for  this  magnificent 
room  except  on  ' '  state  occasions. ' ' 

"  What  about  the  reception  you  intend  to  give 
Carl  and  Agnes?""  Dr.  Leslie  asked,  smiling — 
"  and  Eloise  and  Howard  a  little  later  ?  "" 


480  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 


(( 


Oh,  they  will  be  'state  occasions, "  of  course, " 
she  answered,  laughing  "  But  I  mean  to  have 
them  all  here  together;  and  then  there's  some- 
thing else,'' she  said.  "Oh,  such  a  charming 
little  entertainment  that  occurs  to  me  I  should 
like  to  give — won't  3^011  let  me  do  it — may  I  do 
j  ust  as  I  please  about  it '? ' ' 

She  went  up  to  him  and  laid  her  hand  on  his 
arm,  smiling  pleadingly,  up  into  his  face. 

''  Why,  certainly,  darling;  anything  you  like," 
he  said,  responding  to  her  sweet  coaxing.  •'  But 
you've  made  me  inquisitive.  Am  I  to  know  now, 
or  you'll  tell  me  later  on  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  perfected  plan  yet;  the  idea  just 
came  to  me.  But  it  is  something  in  connection 
with  my  mission  school.  And  you  are  very  sure 
you'll  not  object  ?  "  she  persisted,  gazing  at  him 
earnestly. 

"Most  emphatically  I  shall  not  object,"  he 
returned,  with  a  laugh. 

Upon  the  superb  buffet  in  this  room,  were  the 
most  beautiful  cut-glass,  exquisite  china  and 
solid  silver,  many  of  these  pieces  being  bridal 
gifts  from  personal  friends. 

In  the  centre  of  a  long  table,  which  was  cov- 
ered with  a  cloth  of  green  plush,  richly  embroid- 
ered, stood  an  elegant  silver  epergne,  one  of 
Mrs.  Grayson's  gifts. 

From  this  room  they  passed  on  to  the  library, 
where  Ruth  found  in  the  low,  open  bookcases 
all  her  favorite  volumes  and  many  more  besides, 
in  handsome  and  costly  bindings. 

Taking  Ruth's  hand  and  placing  it  upon  his 
arm.  Dr.  Leslie  said,  "  Now,  come  with  me,  there 
is  one  other  place  I  want  to  show  you — some- 
thing I've  reserved  to  show  you  last — a  sort  of 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  4S1 

shrine  or  private  sanctum  IVe  set  apart  for  your 
own  special  use,  where  no  one,  no,  not  even  I 
shall  dai-e  to  intrude  without  first  obtaining  per- 
mission from  your  royal  highness.'' 

As  he  was  speaking  he  led  her  up  the  marble 
stairway,  capped  by  a  classic  balustrade,  and 
passed  through  her  bedroom  and  dressing- 
room,  with  their  delicate  rose-colored  and  silver 
hangings,  and  paused  in  front  of  a  closed  door, 
over  which  hung  a  blue  velvet  portiere,  stamped 
with  a  Venetian  pattern  of  gold,  and  sweeping 
the  curtain  aside,  he  gently  slided  the  door  on 
its  track. 

In  the  deepening  twilight  Ruth  could  not  see 
clearly  the  interior  of  the  handsome  apartment; 
but  the  next  moment,  when  Dr.  Leslie  crossed 
the  floor  and  shuttered  the  large  plate-glass  win- 
dow, which  had  been  thrown  open  that  morning 
to  admit  the  pure  air  and  warm  sunshine,  then 
touched  an  electric  button,  instantly  a  hundred 
gas  jets,  it  seemed  to  her,  sprang  into  flame,  and 
involuntarily  she  uttered  a  cry  of  surprise  and 
delight. 

Never  was  the  truly  poetical  theory  more 
gracefully  and  effectively  put  into  practice  than 
in  this  restful,  fascinating  retreat.  It  was  a 
dream  of  beauty  and  magnificence. 

The  velvet  panels  of  the  walls  were  embroid- 
ered in  gold,  silver  and  chenille,  with  a  border  of 
velvet  in  contrasting  color,  embroiderd  in  the 
same  way,  while  the  ceiling  was  painted  in  grace- 
ful designs  of  wreaths  and  ribbons,  encircling  a 
centre  piece  significant  of  rosy  sleep.  The  rugs 
were  of  exquisite  designs  and  texture,  and 
seemed  almost  too  dainty  to  be  trodden  upon. 

The  framework  of  the  furniture  was  gold  aud 


482  UNDER   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR, 

white  upholstered   with  satin   brocade  of   pale 
pink. 

There  were  a  small  sofa  and  chairs,  and  a  satin- 
wood  desk,  beautifully  finished.  Upon  this  lay 
a  paper  knife  of  tortoise  shell  and  gold,  with  ru- 
bies and  diamonds  in  the  handle,  and  which  Dr. 
Leslie  told  her  was  a  gift  from  Carl.  Near  it 
was  a  beautiful  white  velvet  covered  Bible,  with 
clasp  and  binding  of  gold,  and  upon  opening  the 
lid,  Ruth  read  on  the  blank  leaf,  in  Mrs.  Gray- 
son's large,  familiar^iand : 

"  To  dear  Cousin  Ruth 
From  her  loving  little  friend, 
Nellie  Leslie  Grayson." 

On  the  little  table,  near  the  window,  was  a 
photograph  of  Agnes,  in  a  delicately  carved  oxi- 
dized silver  frame ;  and  as  soon  as  Ruth  saw  this, 
with  a  throbbing  heart  she  took  it  up,  looked  at 
the  sweet  face  long  and  steadily,  then  replacing 
it  upon  the  table,  she  went  up  to  her  husband, 
holding  out  both  hands  to  him,  her  eyes  still 
shining  through  a  dew  of  tears,  though  the  smile 
upon  her  lips  was  full  of  happiness,  and  said  in 
a  voice  low  and  sweet — sweeter  in  intonation 
than  he  had  ever  heard : 

"  Oh,  Dr.  Leslie — Ralph,  Qiy  generous  and  no- 
ble husband,  if  I  could  but  thank  you  as  I  feel! 
But— . ' '  she  hesitated  a  moment,  looking  fondly 
into  his  splendid  eyes — "  but,  as  much  as  I  ap- 
preciate and  admire  the  beautiful  things  in  life — 
m  Nature  as  well  as  in  Art — God's  creations  and 
man's  inventions,  as  much  as  I  shall  love  and 
thank  you  for  this  grand  and  luxurious  home, 
with  ah  its  rich  a  ad  costly  surroundings,  which, 
even  in  its  influence  is  uplifting  and  ennobling, 
yet,  to   me,  it   would  be  but  a  dreary  place  in- 


IN    THE    NEW    ELDORADO.  483 

deed,  a  mere  gilded  cage,  if  the  light  and  hope 
of  your  dear  presence  were  withdrawn,  and  I 
knew  that  I  had  not  that  richest  blessing  of  a 
wedded  woman's  life — her  husband's  love:  and 
which,  with  the  crowning  glory  of  the  love  of 
Christ,  is  more  to  me  than  all  the  world  beside."' 

His  hand,  which  had  softly  held  hers  as  she 
spoke,  now  closed  tightly  over  them,  he  led  her 
to  a  seat  and  sat  down,  and  then  putting  his  arm 
around  her.  drew  her  head  to  his  bosom.  It 
seemed  to  him  in  that  one  short  hour  she  had 
become  tenfold  more  attractive  and  dearer  to 
him  than  ever  before. 

' '  Ruth,  my  darling,  I  cannot  tell  you  how  in- 
expressibly ha})pyyou  have  made  me;  and  never 
before  have  I  realized  so  sensibly,  that  God  ever 
plans  for  us  a  better  w^ay.  Years  ago.  at  the  very 
beginning  of  my  career,  when  there  fell  a  blight 
upon  my  hopes,  affections  and  aspirations,  when 
all  my  most  carefully  laid  plans  were  thwarted 
and  arrested,  and  for  a  time  all  the  possibilities 
of  life  seemed  like  a  failure,  in  my  feeling  of 
despair  and  sense  of  helplessness  I  was  quite 
ready  to  give  up,  and  say,  there  is  nothing  in 
human  existence  worth  while.  I  could  not  see 
with  my  blinded  eyes  that  those  bitter  experien- 
ces were  a  part  of  the  divine  plan — the  divine 
discipline,  and  that  an  unerring  Hand  was  guid- 
ing my  faltering  feet — not  in  the  pleasant  paths 
I  would  have  chosen,  but  over  a  rugged  and  per- 
ilous [tathway.  which  was  to  bring  me  up  to  that 
height  whence  I  could  have  a  broader,  deeper 
and  higher  view  of  life,  and  where  the  Infinite 
One — the  Author  of  Christianity — was  to  teach 
me  my  duty  to  and  bring  me  in  closer  touch 
with  my   fellow-men;  teach   me  the  lesson  that 


4S+  UNDKR   GOLDEN   SKIES;    OR. 

SO  many  of  us  are  so  slow  to  learii,  that  living 
works,  rather  than  cold,  dead  formalities,  are 
required  by  Him  who  went  about  doing  good. 

' '  I  feel  and  know  now  as  I  never  did  before 
that  the  Christianity  that  Christ  taught  when 
upon  earth,  and  the  Christianity  that  He  is  teach- 
ing us  to-day,  is  not  limited  by  any  narrow  boun- 
daries which  our  puny,  finite  mind  can  com- 
pass, but  is  broad  and  grand,  and  as  unfathoma- 
l3le  and  measureless  as  the  great  sea  of  space 
itself. 

''  Then  let  us,  my  darling,  as  His  stewards, 
whom  we  are,  and  whom  He  has  so  richly  bles- 
sed, thank  Him  daily  for  the  honor  and  privilege 
which  He  has  given  us  to  feed  the  hungry, 
clothe  the  naked,  give  consolation  to  the  broken- 
hearted and  carry  the  gospel  of  peace  and  good- 
wiJl  to  men. 

' '  Yes,  our  work  lies  all  around  us.  The  present 
is  ours,  and  we  must  make  the  most  of  it. ' ' 

Dr.  Leslie  paused,  reached  out  his  hand  and 
took  the  little  Bible  from  the  table,  and  opening 
it  at  the  one  hundred  and  forty-fifth  Psalm,  laid 
the  book  uj^on  his  knee,  and  resumed : 

"  Let  us  take  fresh  courage  and  heart  of  hope, 
my  dear,  as  we  set  out  on  our  life's  journey  to- 
gether, first  consecrating  our  home  which  He 
has  ODly  lent  us  for  a  little  while,  and  all  that  we 
have  and  are,  to  His  service  and  His  glory.  If 
He  has  given  us  more  of  the  temporal  blessings 
of  life  than  some  others,  it  is  not  that  we  may 
selfishly  use  and  enjoy  them,  but  that  we  may 
more  largely  benefit  humanity  and  alleviate  its 
sufferings — that  all  these  beautiful  things  by 
which  He  has  surrounded  us  may  be  a  stimulus 
and  an  inspiration  to  better  and  higher  things, 
imperishable. 


IN   THE   NEW    ELDORADO.  485 

''  Let  us,  as  we  struggle  up  through  conflict 
to  that  high  destiny  which  the  God  of  love,  and 
the  Father  of  mercy  would  have  His  children 
reach,  and  which  destiny  Christ  the  Son  of  God 
has  made  possible,  bravely  take  up  the  duties  of 
life,  bear  patiently  its  burdens,  be  true  to  our- 
selves and  to  the  Kingdom  of  God.  We  must 
follow  Jesus — the  Christ — if  we  would  wrest 
from  life  and  the  world  the  victories  that  are 
possible  for  all. 

' '  His  cross  must  be  our  cross — His  will  our 
will,  and  then  when  we  are  done  with  the  things 
of  this  world,  and  if  we  have  come  out  of  the 
battle  pure  and  strong,  we  can  with  hope  and 
certainty  look  forward  to  a  home  in  that  bright 
and  beautiful  Beyond,  ^^lere  you  and  I,  and  all 
the  blood-washed  that  are  near  and  dear  to  us 
here,  shall  be  there  forever  united,  yea,  under 
golden  skies,  and  with  the  blessed  Christ,  in 
whose  footsteps  we  have  ever  tried  obediently 
to  follow  all  the  wav. ' ' 

THE   END. 


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